Lagos State Police Command has arrested 147 suspects during a coordinated crackdown on criminal hideouts under its ongoing Operation KO S’AYE III, as security operatives intensified efforts to rid the state of criminal elements.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed this in a statement issued on Monday in Lagos.
SP Adebisi said the operation, carried out in the early hours of Sunday, July 19, 2026, followed credible intelligence that led a joint team of officers from different formations of the command to raid identified black spots, including Boolar and Super Ile-Epo.
According to her, the exercise was aimed at dismantling criminal hideouts and arresting hoodlums allegedly responsible for terrorising residents in the affected communities.
She listed items recovered during the raid to include: 250 expended cartridges, 22 machetes, five battle axes, two knives, one lighter, one pair of scissors, assorted charms, and substances suspected to be Indian hemp.
The command spokesperson said all 147 suspects are in police custody, while investigations are ongoing to determine their level of involvement in criminal activities. It added that anyone found culpable would be charged to court.
Commending the operatives, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, praised their commitment to the operation.
He also reaffirmed “the Command’s unwavering commitment to the continued implementation of Operation KO S’AYE, stressing that the operation will be sustained across the State to deny criminals any safe haven and ensure the safety and security of all residents.”
The police commissioner urged Lagos residents to continue supporting security agencies with useful information that could lead to the arrest of criminals and the discovery of illegal hideouts across the state.
He encouraged members of the public to report emergencies or share credible intelligence through the command’s designated emergency telephone lines.
The Lagos State Police Command maintained that the sustained enforcement operation is part of ongoing measures to strengthen security and protect lives and property across the state.