After more than a decade of spreading fear and violence across Lagos communities, the Lagos State Police Command has finally arrested Wasiu Akinwande, also known as Olori Eso, in a covert operation that took place in Agbado, Ogun State.
EpeInsights learnt that Akinwande, long regarded as one of the most dangerous criminal figures in the state, was captured by the Command’s Tactical Squad during an operation code-named “Silence, Speed and Surprise.”
His arrest marks a major breakthrough in the state’s ongoing fight against violent crime, especially in areas like Mushin, which have seen years of bloodshed tied to his name.
According to police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin, Akinwande had led multiple gangs involved in armed robbery, cult clashes, kidnappings and murder.
His influence extended across several parts of Lagos, leaving a trail of trauma and grief.
Police say a significant cache of weapons was recovered from his hideout, including assault rifles, shotguns, pistols, live ammunition, walkie-talkies and several international passports belonging to different individuals.
Akinwande reportedly admitted to using the weapons in various coordinated attacks carried out with his gang.
This arrest, however, is not his first. In 2016, he was reportedly taken into custody but was later released under unclear circumstances, despite public outcry and claims of strong evidence.
Before that, in 2011, he was also briefly detained following a gang clash but was soon back on the streets.
His gang even faked his death at one point by printing obituaries and staging a burial to mislead security forces.
Akinwande has been linked to several high-profile killings, including the 2010 death of nine-year-old Aminat Lateef, who was struck by a stray bullet during a gang clash in Fadeyi, and the 2015 killing of a pregnant woman named Ruka, a street vendor caught in a crossfire in Mushin.
The Lagos Police Commissioner, Moshood Jimoh, has ordered a full-scale investigation into Akinwande’s network, directing the State Criminal Investigation Department to identify and arrest all his associates.
So far, at least four families have come forward, identifying Akinwande as the person responsible for the deaths of their loved ones.
He is currently in custody under heavy security, and police authorities have assured the public that he will face the full weight of the law.
