Police arrest suspected robber with human body part and guns in Lagos

The Lagos State Police has arrested a 21-year-old man suspected of armed robbery. He was reportedly found with a suspected human body part.

The suspect also had firearms and items believed to belong to robbery victims. This happened during a stop-and-search operation along the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

The police spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, shared this news in a statement on Friday.

The suspect, named Samson Onilewaji, was traveling in an unregistered commercial shuttle bus with five other people. Police stopped the bus during a routine security check.

Adebisi explained that a search of the bus and its passengers led to the discovery of a suspected human right hand, two locally made pistols, one live cartridge, two axes, a Point of Sale (POS) terminal, and five Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.

"The suspect confessed to having recently robbed three individuals of their personal belongings, including the recovered POS terminal and ATM cards," the statement said.

The police are working to identify and contact the victims to return their belongings. They are also trying to find out who the owner of the suspected human hand is and why the suspect had it.

The police said they are making efforts to catch other suspects linked to this case. Mr Onilewaji will be charged in court once the investigation wraps up.

This arrest comes as the Lagos State Police increases stop-and-search operations and other security measures on major roads and in communities. They aim to reduce armed robbery, illegal firearms, and other violent crimes. Recently, the command has reported several arrests and weapon recoveries in different operations around the state.

In response to the arrest, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, emphasized the command's commitment to fighting violent crime and other criminal acts.

He urged residents to stay alert and continue giving the police timely and reliable information to help prevent crime and improve public safety. The police also asked the public to report any suspicious activities through their emergency lines.