The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Zubairu Muazu, on Monday, paraded 202 people, suspected of involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and other related crimes in Lagos State.
It was learnt that the parading of the suspects is part of a renewed crackdown on criminals in the state, tagged “Operation Crush’’.
Briefing newsmen at the Ikorodu Police Divisional Headquarters at Igbogbo in Ikorodu, Muazu said the police had also recovered firearms, cutlasses, phones and charms from the suspects.
“The command has painstakingly put in place measures to reclaim the destiny of our youths, who have chosen the paths of crime by engaging in various cult activities.
“Cultism is evil and a crime against the collective will of the people. When cultism thrives, surely other heinous crimes like murder, rape, robbery and the rest will thrive too.
“Defeating cultism will, therefore, mean defeating all heinous crimes in the state as virtually every major crime recorded in the state has a link to cultism.
“Thus the special operation we are flagging off today is code-named, Operation Crush, aimed at ending cultism and gangsterism. It will be directly under my command.”
The commissioner said that he had not relented in fighting crimes since he assumed office last February, urging Lagos residents to join hands to ride the state of criminals.
He said that the 202 people arrested for various crimes would soon be charged to court.