- Safiu Kehinde
The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a hotel allegedly used as a hideout for criminals in Mushin area of the state, arresting two suspected armed robbers.
This was confirmed in a statement issued on Friday by the command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi.
According to Adebisi, detectives on duty along Empire Junction by Jibowu inward Ikorodu Road had around 10am on Friday sighted four suspected robbers.
On noticing the officers, three of the suspects escaped, while one, identified as Toheeb Adeboye, was intercepted and arrested.
A search of the 21-year-old suspect’s bag uncovered a cut-to-size single-barrel gun, an English Barreter pistol with two live rounds, and another pistol with cartridges.
The suspect confessed the gang had just concluded a robbery in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun, and planned to regroup at the hotel identified as New Supreme Hotel at Akala, Mushin, which he claimed to be their regular hideout after operations.
Acting on intelligence, operatives raided the hotel and recovered a laptop, charms, suspected Indian hemp, hard drugs, and other incriminating exhibits.
In the course of the raid, one of the fleeing suspects, Ajayi Adeniyi, was arrested at the scene with a locally fabricated pistol.
The hideout has since been permanently sealed off with the suspects and exhibits transferred to the command headquarters.
Effort is however ongoing to track down other fleeing gang members.
Reacting to the development, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, commended the operatives for their professionalism during the operation.
Jimoh urged hoteliers to keep proper customer records, warning negligence could expose their facilities to criminal exploitation.
The CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, urging residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities.