Lagos Police Arrest 147 Suspects, Recover 250 Cartridges, Machetes and Suspected Cannabis in Crime Crackdown.

Lagos Police Arrest 147 Suspects, Recover 250 Cartridges, Machetes and Suspected Cannabis in Crime Crackdown.

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 147 suspects and recovered ammunition, dangerous weapons, charms and substances suspected to be Indian hemp during a coordinated raid on criminal hideouts across the state.

The operation, conducted in the early hours of Sunday, July 19, 2026, formed part of the ongoing Operation KO S’AYE III, an intelligence led security initiative aimed at dismantling criminal hideouts and preventing suspected criminals from using such locations as safe havens.

According to the police, operatives from different formations of the Lagos Command raided identified black spots around Boolar, Super Ile-Epo and other locations at about 5:30 a.m., following what authorities described as credible intelligence. The operation was reportedly targeted at flushing out suspected hoodlums accused of terrorising residents and road users in the affected areas.

Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said exhibits recovered during the operation included 250 expended cartridges, five battle axes, 22 machetes, two knives, a pair of scissors, a lighter, assorted charms and substances suspected to be Indian hemp. Some reports also cited the recovery of live ammunition during the broader operation, although the police statement primarily listed the 250 expended cartridges among the exhibits.

The 147 suspects remain in police custody while investigators determine their individual involvement in criminal activities. The command said suspects found to have committed offences would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, commended the officers involved in the operation and reaffirmed the command’s intention to sustain Operation KO S’AYE across the state. He also urged residents to provide credible and timely information that could assist security agencies in identifying criminal hideouts and preventing crime.

The arrests come amid continuing security challenges in parts of Lagos, where police authorities have increasingly relied on intelligence-led raids, stop and search operations and coordinated security deployments to disrupt criminal networks.

Important clarification: Reports matching the details of this incident identify Lagos State, not Niger State, as the location of the arrests. Obaland magazine has therefore corrected the location in the headline and report to avoid publishing inaccurate information. The Punch, The Guardian, Vanguard and The Nation all reported the 147 arrests as a Lagos Police Command operation.