The Lagos State Police Command has intercepted 47 sacks of military camouflage uniforms and 80 cartons of suspected illicit substances during an intelligence-led operation in the Surulere area of the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, disclosed the development while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja on Tuesday. He said officers also arrested three suspects in connection with the seizure.
The suspects, identified as Chinedu David, 29; Ezeagwu Chukwuma, 38; and Ifeanyi Ogbeanyi, 45, were apprehended by operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit on Saturday night.
According to the commissioner, officers intercepted an unregistered MAN diesel truck carrying the military camouflage uniforms and cartons containing substances suspected to be illicit drugs.
He said, “Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, acting on intelligence-led operations, recorded a major breakthrough with the arrest of three suspects identified as Chinedu David ‘m’, aged 29 years, Ezeagwu Chukwuma ‘m’, aged 38 years, and Ifeanyi Ogbeanyi ‘m’, aged 45 years.
“The operation further led to the recovery of one unregistered MAN diesel truck loaded with 47 sacks containing military camouflage uniforms and 80 cartons of drugs suspected to be illicit substances.”
Tijani said preliminary investigations indicated that the truck was allegedly transporting the military uniforms to the South-East.
He added that investigators were working to determine the origin of the uniforms and suspected drugs, identify their intended recipients and establish the full extent of the suspects’ involvement.
He said, “Investigation is ongoing to determine the source, ownership, and intended recipients of the recovered items, as well as establish the extent of the suspects’ involvement and identify other persons connected with the criminal act.”
The commissioner assured residents that the seizure posed no immediate threat to Lagos, explaining that the consignment was leaving the state when officers intercepted it.
“It does not pose any form of threat to Lagos State. They were moving out of the state, but you know, with the trend of events in the country where we have seen bandits wear military uniforms, who knows what they want to do with this? Nobody could tell,” he disclosed.
A police officer involved in the investigation, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said officers initially arrested the truck driver and his assistant before tracing and arresting two other suspects linked to the consignment.
“We initially arrested the truck driver and the assistant. We later arrested two other suspects who visited our police station in Surulere to claim the exhibits,” the officer said.
The recovery comes amid growing concerns over the increasing use of military-style uniforms by criminal groups across the country.