Police operatives in Lagos have arrested a 21-year-old man after allegedly recovering a suspected human hand, two locally made pistols and other suspected stolen items during a routine stop-and-search exercise on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
The suspect, Samson Onilewaji, was apprehended after officers intercepted an unregistered commercial shuttle bus carrying six occupants during the operation.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Abimbola Adebisi, a search of the vehicle and its occupants led to the recovery of a suspected human right hand, two locally made pistols, one live cartridge, two axes, a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal and five Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards from the suspect.
“During the search, the suspect was found in possession of a suspected human right hand, two locally made pistols, one live cartridge, two axes, one POS terminal machine and five ATM cards,” Adebisi said.
The police spokesperson disclosed that the suspect allegedly confessed during interrogation to recently robbing three individuals of their belongings, including the recovered POS terminal and ATM cards.
She added that efforts were underway to identify and contact the victims so their recovered property could be returned.
Adebisi said detectives had also commenced investigations to determine the identity of the owner of the suspected human hand, the circumstances surrounding its possession and its intended use.
“Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the identity of the owner of the recovered suspected human hand, the circumstances surrounding its possession and its intended use. Further efforts are being intensified to identify and apprehend other criminal associates connected with the suspect,” she stated.
She noted that the suspect would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Reaffirming the command’s commitment to public safety, Adebisi said the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Olaiwola Fatai, had assured residents of sustained efforts to combat violent crime and other criminal activities across the state.
“The Commissioner of Police assures Lagos residents of the Command’s unwavering commitment to combating violent crime and other criminal activities and urges members of the public to continue supporting the Police with timely and credible information that will aid crime prevention and enhance public safety,” Adebisi added.
