Acombined team of the State Security Service, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the Police, on Sunday, raided Takwa Bay Island in Lagos and arrested about 40 suspected criminals.
Some of the suspects are believed to be militants and sea pirates.
Although details of their arrest were sketchy as at press time, a source told our correspondents that some of the criminals participated in the recent kidnapping of a Lebanese on Lagos Island.
It was also learnt that following the rising wave of attacks on the island by the militants and sea pirates, residents of the area had lived in fear because of the sophisticated weapons they reportedly carried.
A source also said that the arrest of the suspected militants was achieved through the cooperation and assistance of a traditional ruler and Chairman of the Local Council Development Area, who assisted the security operatives in locating the hideouts of the militants.
The source said, “The raid was successful and I can tell you that about 40 suspected criminals were arrested. I can assure you that the suspects will be prosecuted.”
After the arrest, it was gathered that the entire community was happy about the development.
A highly placed source confided in one of our correspondents that raid was based on an intelligence report that some people who committed ‘serious crimes’ on the waterways used the area as ‘safe havens.’
The source added that some of the arrested suspects included 11 ‘real time criminals’ who had been on the wanted list of the police.
He also said that the suspects would be handed over to the police for investigation and necessary prosecution.
Spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Frank Mba, a superintendent of police, confirmed the raid to one of our correspondents on the telephone.
He said the raid was part of the command‘s resolve to ensure that there was no safe haven for criminals in the state.
He said, “With the level of cooperation we are receiving from the state government and other security agencies, there is no other option for criminals than for them to leave.”
The raid came barely 24 hours after the killing of six suspected kidnappers by the police in Lagos.
The Police Commissioner, Lagos State Command, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, said the kidnappers, were gunned down by the Police in a bid to rescue a Lebanese who had been held hostage since last Monday.