The Lagos State Police Command has intercepted 47 sacks of military camouflage uniforms and 80 cartons of suspected illicit substances in a major intelligence-led operation in the Surulere area of the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, while addressing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja on Tuesday, also disclosed that three suspects were arrested in connection with the recovery.
He said the suspects, identified as Chinedu David, 29; Ezeagwu Chukwuma, 38; and Ifeanyi Ogbeanyi, 45, were arrested by operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit on Saturday night.
According to him, the suspects were apprehended with an unregistered MAN diesel truck loaded with military camouflage uniforms and cartons of substances suspected to be illicit drugs.
He said, “Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, acting on intelligence-led operations, recorded a major breakthrough with the arrest of three suspects identified as Chinedu David ‘m’, aged 29 years, Ezeagwu Chukwuma ‘m’, aged 38 years, and Ifeanyi Ogbeanyi ‘m’, aged 45 years.
“The operation further led to the recovery of one unregistered MAN diesel truck loaded with 47 sacks containing military camouflage uniforms and 80 cartons of drugs suspected to be illicit substances.”
The CP said preliminary investigations revealed that the truck was allegedly being used to transport the military uniforms to the South-East.
The police boss added that investigations were ongoing to determine the source of the uniforms and suspected drugs.
He said, “Investigation is ongoing to determine the source, ownership, and intended recipients of the recovered items, as well as establish the extent of the suspects’ involvement and identify other persons connected with the criminal act.”
Speaking further on the recovery, the commissioner allayed fears that the development posed an immediate threat to residents of the state, noting that the consignment was being moved out of Lagos.
“It does not pose any form of threat to Lagos State. They were moving out of the state, but you know, with the trend of events in the country where we have seen bandits wear military uniforms, who knows what they want to do with this? Nobody could tell,” he disclosed.
A police officer involved in the investigation, but preferred anonymity as he was not permitted to speak to the press, said that the truck driver and his assistant were initially arrested before two other suspects linked to the consignment were identified.
“We initially arrested the truck driver and the assistant. We later arrested two other suspects who visited our police station in Surulere to claim the exhibits,” the officer said.
The recovery comes amid growing concerns over the proliferation of military-grade uniforms among criminal elements across the country.
By Dayo Oyewo
