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Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have neutralised two suspected armed robbers and apprehended a third following a gun battle in the Ijora-Badia area of the state.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Tijani, revealed details of the operation on Wednesday while addressing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja.
According to the police chief, the confrontation occurred around 10:00 p.m. on Sunday when officers from the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, acting on credible intelligence, raided a suspected criminal hideout along Gasikia Road, Ijora-Badia.
Upon sighting the police team, the gang reportedly opened fire, prompting a fierce exchange of gunshots.
Two members of the gang were fatally wounded in the encounter, while one suspect escaped. Operatives arrested a 26-year-old suspect at the scene and recovered two Beretta pistols alongside four rounds of live 9mm ammunition.
Police investigations indicate the gang was actively preparing for a robbery operation when officers intervened. CP Tijani noted that the detained suspect is cooperating with investigators and providing crucial details regarding the group’s past activities.
“The suspect is still with us and is still giving useful information as to what they have been doing,” Tijani said, adding that the suspect confessed to participating in multiple robberies across the state.
Police are currently verifying these claims to determine the full extent of his involvement while intensifying efforts to track down the fleeing gang member and recover additional arms.
Tijani reassured Lagos residents that the command remains committed to intelligence-driven policing to dismantle criminal networks and safeguard lives and property.
Speaking to journalists during interrogation at the headquarters, the arrested 26-year-old expressed remorse, admitting he joined the four-man gang earlier in the week and took part in three robberies.
He claimed his share of the loot ranged between N50,000 and N250,000 per operation, though he maintained he never personally carried a weapon.
“I want to change. I swear to Almighty God, I will change. This kind of life does not serve me,” the suspect said. (NAN)
