Coastal road, third mainland bridge: Lagos Police arrest suspected vandals, recover exhibits

Michael Olumide Alabi

Lagos State Police Command has arrested 39 suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including vandalism, stealing, armed robbery and cultism, across the state in August 2026.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Olayiwola Fatai, disclosed this during a press briefing held in Ikeja, where he presented the command’s operational achievements for the period under review.

The briefing was held in collaboration with the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Engr. Olufemi Dare, following growing concerns over the vandalism and theft of government infrastructure, particularly along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and the Third Mainland Bridge.

The command also paraded some of the suspects arrested during its operations and displayed exhibits recovered from them.

Fatai welcomed members of the press and commended the media for its continued partnership with the police in keeping residents informed about efforts to protect lives and property across Lagos.

He said the command remained committed to proactive, intelligence-led and community-oriented policing, stressing that the police would continue to respond swiftly to credible information and conduct targeted operations to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks.

According to him, the operations conducted during the period resulted in the arrest of 39 suspects involved in different criminal activities and the recovery of firearms, ammunition, suspected illicit drugs, weapons and other exhibits.

Items recovered, he said, included vandalised iron materials and cables, a truck loaded with cartons of spaghetti, one double-barrelled long gun, 14 locally made pistols and live cartridges, seven cutlasses, 16 knives, 13 bags of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, one Point-of-Sale machine, assorted charms and a laptop.

Crackdown on Coastal road vandals

The CP highlighted the arrest of 10 suspects allegedly involved in the vandalism and theft of iron materials and other infrastructure along the Coastal Road on August 17.

He said the suspects, who were between 18 and 32 years old, were arrested following intelligence received by the command.

The youngest suspect was identified as Emmanuel James, aged 18, while Muyideen Ola, aged 32, was described as the oldest among those arrested in connection with the alleged vandalism.

Fatai said the arrests were part of efforts to protect critical government infrastructure from criminal elements who had allegedly turned the construction corridor into a target for theft and vandalism.

Third Mainland Bridge cables

The police commissioner also disclosed the arrest of a suspect allegedly involved in the vandalism and removal of cables connected to government-installed closed-circuit television cameras on the Third Mainland Bridge.

He said the suspect was already in police custody and would assist investigators in identifying other accomplices and dealers allegedly involved in receiving the stolen materials.

Suspected Robber Arrested With Firearm
The command also arrested a suspected armed robber, identified as Olamide Suleiman, during a stop-and-search operation around the Aguda area of Lagos.

According to the CP, Suleiman was found with substances suspected to be Indian hemp and a locally made pistol concealed in his bag.

He said the suspect was undergoing investigation to establish his antecedents and determine his possible links with other criminal networks.

Cultist arrested with pistol

Fatai further disclosed the arrest of Ibrahim Abidogun, popularly known as Shifon, on Aug. 18.

Abidogun, whom the police described as an alleged member of the Aiye confraternity, was arrested around Aguda with a locally made pistol.

The CP said the suspect was allegedly using the weapon to terrorise residents in the area, adding that investigation was ongoing.
Trailer Driver Arrested Over Alleged Diversion of Goods

The command also recorded the arrest of a suspected trailer driver in connection with the alleged diversion of goods parked in front of a church in Egbeda.

Fatai said the police acted on credible intelligence after several mini-trucks were allegedly brought to evacuate goods from the trailer.

He said the command swiftly intervened through an intelligence-led operation, resulting in the arrest of the trailer driver and the recovery of an SUV allegedly used by one of the suspects who fled the scene.

Cultists arrested at Isolo dumpsite

The police also arrested two suspected cultists at a dumpsite in the Isolo area of Lagos.

The suspects, identified as Sodiq Omotunde, 33, and Bilyaminu, 28, were allegedly gathered at the location for the initiation of new members into a cult group.

The CP said the suspects were arrested to facilitate further investigation into their alleged involvement in cult-related activities.
Four Suspected Cultists Arrested at Ijesha-Tedo

In another operation, four suspected members of the Eiye confraternity were arrested in the Ijesha-Tedo area of the state.

The suspects were identified as Segun Hammed, Adebite Afeez, Daniel Olawale and Kazeem Babatunde, with their ages reportedly ranging between 33 and 43.
The police said dangerous weapons were recovered during the operation.

The command also reported the arrest of Hamed Oniyi and Qudus Lawal in connection with alleged cultism and armed robbery activities, with firearms, ammunition and other incriminating items recovered during the operations.

Coastal road not a safe haven for criminals — controller

Speaking at the briefing, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Engr. Olufemi Dare, expressed concern over the vandalism of infrastructure along the Coastal Road.

Dare said directional signs and manholes constructed along the road had been vandalised and removed by criminal elements, adding that such activities had also contributed to the creation of unauthorised U-turns along the route.

He clarified that there were no authorised illegal U-turns on the Coastal Road, stressing that the road was designed to facilitate direct movement between Lagos and Calabar.

According to him, the Coastal Road would no longer serve as a safe haven for criminals, as security personnel had intensified patrols during the day and night to apprehend those involved in vandalising government infrastructure and projects.

Dare called for stiff punishment for persons prosecuted and convicted for vandalism, saying such punishment would serve as a deterrent to others.

Lagos will not be safe haven for criminals

In his closing remarks, Fatai said the operational achievements recorded in August reflected the command’s determination to stay ahead of criminal elements through intelligence-led policing, proactive patrols, targeted operations, effective surveillance and prompt response to credible information.

He commended members of the public and the media for their support, urging them not to relent in providing credible information that could assist the police in preventing and combating crime.

The CP stressed the importance of stronger collaboration between the police and residents, saying timely information remained crucial to tackling criminal activities across Lagos.

He reiterated that the Lagos State Police Command would continue to intensify its operations against vandals, cultists, armed robbers and other criminal elements.

“Lagos State will not be a safe haven for criminals,” the CP said, assuring residents that the command would continue to deploy intelligence, patrols and targeted operations to protect lives, property and critical government infrastructure across the state.