Is Lagos CP, Tijani, the New Sheriff?

The Lagos State Police Command last said its operatives have arrested 47 suspects, recovered 14 vehicles and 14 different firearms and calibre of ammunition, among others from armed robbers, cultists and fraudsters within two weeks.

This feat, it added, was recorded under the new Commissioner of Police, CP Olayiwola Tijani, who assumed office on March 26, 2026.

Giving further details, Tijani said among the suspects was a notorious thug and suspected armed robber, Jamiu Yaya, at Canal area, Campus Street, Amukoko who had been on the wanted list. He said a follow up search at his residence led to the recovery of one locally made pistol, two live cartridges, one empty shell of K2 ammunition and suspected charms.

According to him, his largest haul of arrests was made on Sunday, April 5, 2026, when the operatives of the command arrested 21 suspects involved in cult-related activities.

Tijani said the suspects were apprehended at about 0300hrs at a hotel in Ajao Estate while celebrating the birthday of a notorious cult member known as “Actor,” who is currently at large.

Recovered exhibits, he added included one locally made cut-to-size single-barrel gun, Aiye cult-branded envelope, Aiye cult-branded plastic bottles, one laptop and 23 mobile phones. He said the suspects are currently in police custody, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect.

Also arrested was a suspect who fraudulently acquired multiple exotic vehicles valued at over ₦520 million using deceptive financial instruments.

 It is hoped that CP Tijani’s crime-busting feat is not a one-off or show off. Hope he will sustain his fight to rid the state of crime.

In the past, residents have seen that when a commissioner of police is posted to the state, he would pretend to be effective in the first few months of arrival, then go to sleep throughout his tenure. This should be the case here. Crime-busting needs to be sustained.

Lagos is bleeding with crimes. There are many ungoverned spaces where thugs, cultists, miscreants live like kings, robbing, harassing, intimidating and disturbing public peace without challenge.

Most of the DPOs are tired or simply ineffective, leaving criminals to run amok.