The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned a suspected assassin, Wasiu Akinwande, popularly known as Olori Eso, on 11 counts including murder, unlawful possession of arms, and conspiracy to commit felony.
Akinwande, aged 44, was described by police as the “most wanted vicious and notorious hired killer” who has long terrorised Mushin and surrounding areas. He was arrested during a covert tactical operation codenamed Silence, Speed and Surprise, which was executed by the Command’s Tactical Squad at his hideout in Agbado, Ogun State.
Lagos Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement on Tuesday, confirmed that the suspect had repeatedly evaded capture by relocating across different states. However, the Command remained resolute in its pursuit until his arrest.
“Akinwande’s criminal activities have left trauma, horror, agony and pains in the families of victims of his numerous high-profile crimes under investigation,” Hundeyin stated.
During a raid on his Mushin residence, operatives recovered a large cache of weapons and incriminating items, including:
- Two AK-47 rifles
- One K2 assault rifle
- One Red Ryder rifle
- Three pump-action rifles
- Two locally made single-barrel pistols
- Five magazines
- 57 live cartridges
- 70 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition
- 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition
- One expended 5.56 round
- One dagger
- Three walkie-talkies
- Nine international passports belonging to various individuals
According to Hundeyin, Akinwande “freely admitted he was using [the weapons] for his killing operations with his gang.”
Four families have since come forward to identify him as the killer of their children and wards.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), to lead a team of specially selected detectives to broaden the investigation and arrest all other suspects linked to the case.
Jimoh reassured residents that the Lagos State Police Command remains fully committed to safeguarding lives and maintaining security across the state.
