By Christopher Oji
The Lagos State Police Command has busted an illegal gun manufacturing factory in the Ibeju-Lekki area of the state.
Already, two people have been arrested in connection with the manufacturing of guns found in the factory.
The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Idowu Owohunwa, who paraded the suspects among 30 others, said the suspects were helping the police in their investigation.
Briefing journalists, Owohunwa, who was represented by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said on September 11, 2023, at about 4pm, based on actionable intelligence on a blacksmith, who fabricated firearms for onward sales to criminals around Idata village of Ibeju-Lekki, operatives of the command busted the factory and arrested one Musiliu Gbenga, 21, and Owolabi Azeez, 22. He said the arrest formed the bulk of the command’s achievements in its fight against crime and criminality within the state in the past one month or so.
Owohunwa listed items recovered from the arms manufacturing site to include three single-barrel locally-made pistols, one double-barrel locally-made gun, one single-barrel locally-made gun, two single-barrel locally-made long gun, 10 expended cartridges, 12 long pipes, two drilling machines, one gas cylinder, one vehicle and other fabricated tools.
“Before you, we have a total of 32 suspects, who have engaged in varying crimes, including adulteration of products, fabrication of firearms, armed robbery, stealing and cultism, etc.
“From all these cases, which we successfully cracked, we recovered a total of 25 firearms including a toy gun, 74 live cartridges, 12 expended cartridges,12 long pipes, two drilling machines, one gas cylinder, one vehicle, other fabricated tools, two daggers, one UTC axe, various charms and 251 adulterated wires,” he said.
Owohunwa further stated that operatives of the command also arrested two suspected cultists, Omotosho Olanrewaju, 27, and Alabi Damilare, 20. He said on October 8, 2023, one Quadri Fawas, 18, was arrested and that investigation carried out revealed that the suspects are members of a cult group.
“In October 6, 2023, one Modile Juwon (aka Number two), 35, was arrested. Investigation revealed him to be the second in command of a cult group operating and terrorising the Grammar School area of Ikorodu,” he said.
He said two people were also arrested for illegal possession of firearms: “On September 1, 2023, at about 11pm, operatives of the Command arrested Lukmon Jimoh, 35, and Chukwuemeka Okwasilieze, 28, who were seen loitering around Ibeju-Lekki. One locally-made pistol, one toy pistol, one cartridge, one dagger and one UTC axe, were recovered from them. They are suspected members of a one chance gang,” he added.