By Ude Emmanuel
Authorities in Lagos have successfully arrested 44-year-old Wasiu Akinwande, a man believed to be one of the most dangerous and elusive contract killers the state has seen in recent years.
According to a press briefing issued by the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, Akinwande—also known by the alias “Olori Eso”—was taken into custody during a high-risk, intelligence-led operation dubbed “Silence, Speed, and Surprise.” The tactical squad traced the fugitive to his hideout in Agbado, Ogun State, where he was apprehended without incident.
Akinwande, who had long operated under the radar, was infamous for orchestrating a wave of violent crimes across Mushin and surrounding communities in Lagos. Repeated efforts to apprehend him within the state had failed, prompting the cross-border operation that led to his capture.
“This arrest is one of the most significant breakthroughs in recent years,” Hundeyin said. “The suspect, who is believed to be the ringleader of a deadly criminal network, was caught with a haul of weapons and tools commonly associated with organized violent crimes.”
Items recovered from his residence include an arsenal of arms and ammunition: two AK-47 rifles, one K2 rifle, a Red Ryder rifle, three pump-action shotguns, and a pair of locally fabricated pistols. Also seized were five magazines, 57 live cartridges, 70 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a used 5.56 cartridge, a combat knife, three walkie-talkies, and nine international passports bearing various identities.
Investigators say Akinwande has been at the center of a string of heinous acts spanning over a decade, ranging from armed robbery and assassination to cult-linked killings and abductions. His alleged involvement in these crimes has left a trail of devastation, particularly in parts of Lagos notorious for gang violence.
Police officials disclosed that several families have already identified Akinwande as the individual responsible for the murders of their loved ones. These confirmations, they say, strengthen the case against him and expose the full extent of his criminal reach.
“The psychological and emotional toll of his actions on victims and their families cannot be overstated,” Hundeyin noted. “This arrest sends a strong message that no matter how long it takes, justice will be served.”
Following the arrest, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, has ordered an expanded investigation into Akinwande’s network. He has tasked the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) with assembling a special team of elite detectives to track down accomplices and unravel the full scope of the criminal operation.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police say more arrests are expected as they work to dismantle the ring of violence allegedly led by Akinwande.
