The Lagos State Police Command has dismantled a notorious “one-chance” robbery syndicate operating across the state.

The Command arrests 21 suspects and recovering 25 vehicles linked to various criminal activities.

Commissioner of Police, CP Olorundare Jimoh who confirmed this at a news briefing, said the breakthrough followed intensified crime-prevention strategies and intelligence-driven operations across Lagos.

Jimoh noted that sustained intelligence from members of the public has continued to play a critical role in crime prevention.

He also issued fresh security tips to Lagosians on how to avoid falling victim to one-chance robbery, urging residents to remain vigilant when boarding commercial vehicles.

According to him, eight additional suspects were recently arrested in connection with the one-chance robbery gang, bringing the total number of suspects apprehended to 21.

Jimoh said four more operational vehicles used by the syndicate were also recovered, in addition to two earlier seized vehicles.

According to him, the gang operated as a double-edged criminal network, saying if victims cooperated, they were robbed and released if they resisted or appeared suspicious, they were detained, taken to a shrine, and their families contacted for ransom under the guise of kidnapping.

He explained that the criminals typically deployed multiple vehicles across the state, targeting unsuspecting commuters, luring them in under the pretext of public transportation before robbing or extorting them.

The Commissioner urged residents to be vigilant, warning against boarding vehicles already occupied by two or three passengers whose destinations are unclear.

He said in a genuine public transport setting, passengers should be asking where the vehicle is going not the other way round.

The Lagos State Police Command also announced the arrest of a suspect connected to a bomb threat circulated on January 21, targeting three schools, two in Ikeja and one in the Ogombo area.

The threat caused panic among parents and residents.

Police said swift intelligence gathering and digital forensic investigations led to the arrest of one suspect.

While the suspect claimed his phone had been lost before the threat was issued, investigations revealed that the same mobile line was actively used to communicate with family members during and after the period the messages were sent, contradicting his claim.

The suspect remained in custody and will be charged in court after investigations were concluded.

However, items recovered by the police within the two months are as follows: Vehicles recovered: 25, Firearms recovered: 17, Fake currency: 34 bundles of suspected foreign currencies, Fetish charms and dangerous weapons.

Similarly, the Command stated that investigations were ongoing to identify accomplices, trace interstate and cross-border criminal links, verify ownership of recovered vehicles, and determine the source of the counterfeit currencies.

Consequently, the State Police Command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property as it assured residents to continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of all residents.

The vehicles were variously reported stolen, fraudulently converted, unlawfully removed from motor parks, or smuggled.

Several suspects were arrested for offences ranging from armed robbery, conspiracy, carjacking, assault occasioning harm, and threats to life.

The Command also recovered illegal firearms and dangerous weapons, including four locally fabricated dane guns, 13 cut-to-size pistols, nine live cartridges, and one expended cartridge, and fetish charms and other incriminating items.

In addition, bundles of suspected counterfeit foreign and Nigerian currencies were seized during multiple operations.