For years, his name lingered in police files and on community lips — feared, whispered, and rarely forgotten. Behind a string of unsolved crimes and unanswered grief, one man kept resurfacing in reports, only to vanish again.
Now, after more than a decade in hiding, he’s finally in custody.
This article traces the rise, escape, and eventual arrest of Lagos’s most elusive assassin, known as Olori Eso — and examines why his story still casts a long shadow over Mushin.
The Man Behind the Name
Olori Eso, whose real name is Wasiu Akinwande, has been linked to over a decade of cult-linked killings, gang violence, and organized crime across parts of Lagos State — particularly Mushin. He was not a one-time criminal, but the alleged leader of a highly structured and long-standing underground network. His aliases reportedly shifted frequently, and his ability to elude law enforcement made him a priority target of Lagos State’s criminal intelligence division for several years.
Authorities had issued several warrants for his arrest since as early as 2011, but despite multiple encounters with law enforcement, he remained beyond the reach of justice until mid-2025.
How the Fear Took Root
The fear associated with his name is rooted not just in the crimes he was linked to, but in the prolonged inability of the system to bring him to justice.
According to records compiled by the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Akinwande was identified as a suspected mastermind in:
- Targeted assassinations of rival cult members in the Mushin-Isolo axis
- Armed robberies in Surulere, Agege, and Iyana-Ipaja
- The killing of multiple civilians in crossfire incidents between 2011 and 2020
- Coordinating criminal gangs that executed contract killings for local syndicates.
While many of these cases were poorly documented due to witness intimidation, recurring patterns in suspect profiling and gang interrogation testimonies consistently pointed toward him as the operational leader.
The Pattern of Evasion
What made Olori Eso different from other violent gang leaders was his repeated ability to evade arrest — or escape prosecution altogether.
He was reportedly arrested at least three times between 2011 and 2018, but each time, charges were dropped due to lack of evidence or witness withdrawals.
In one of the most controversial cases, following his 2014 arrest in connection to a cult-linked triple homicide in Odi-Olowo, a key witness disappeared days before the scheduled court date. The case was quietly abandoned, and he was released.
Why Mushin Felt It the Most
While Akinwande’s alleged crimes affected multiple parts of Lagos, Mushin bore the deepest scars.
Between 2012 and 2019, more than 30 deaths were attributed to cult clashes and drive-by shootings linked to his gang, according to Lagos State security reports. The epicenter of many of these incidents was the densely populated Mushin-Isolo corridor, where rival cult groups clashed for territory and retribution.
But beyond the statistics, the long-term impact was social. Residents in parts of Mushin — especially around Akala, Olateju, and Idi-Araba — lived under a cloud of fear, often choosing silence over cooperation with police, fearing reprisals. Some shop owners relocated; others closed their businesses entirely after being extorted or threatened.
The failure to apprehend Akinwande during these peak years led to a wider loss of faith in state institutions, especially as the deaths of several victims — including minors — remained unresolved for years.
The Turning Point
By late 2024, mounting public pressure and fresh intelligence reports led to a renewed focus on tracking him down. Under the leadership of Lagos State Police Commissioner Adegoke Fayoade, a tactical unit codenamed Operation Silence, Speed & Surprise was formed with one central target: Olori Eso.
This new effort was different. Intelligence was drawn from multiple states, including Ogun and Oyo, and the task force was given broader surveillance powers.
According to statements released by the police, a major breakthrough came in May 2025 when undercover operatives intercepted encrypted mobile communications pointing to his location in Agbado, a suburb on the Lagos–Ogun border.
The Arrest: June 20, 2025
On the morning of June 20, 2025, Lagos Police announced the arrest of Wasiu Akinwande, aka Olori Eso, at a residential compound in Agbado. He was found with a cache of sophisticated weapons, passports, and gang records.
Items Recovered:
- 2 AK-47 rifles
- 1 K2 military-grade assault rifle
- 3 pump-action shotguns
- 2 locally made pistols
- Over 150 rounds of assorted ammunition
- Nine forged international passports
- Three walkie-talkies and encrypted communication devices
- A handwritten logbook containing names and financial records
The arrest was confirmed within hours by the Lagos State Command’s Public Relations Officer, and further corroborated by independent outlets.
What the Arrest Meant for Victims’ Families
The arrest of Olori Eso was a breakthrough — but for many families in Mushin, it was also a painful reminder.
Several relatives of suspected victims came forward after the arrest to identify him as the man responsible for their losses. Among them were the families of three young men who were shot in separate incidents between 2013 and 2016. In at least two of the cases, court proceedings had stalled due to lack of suspect custody.
For these families, the arrest brought renewed calls for formal inquests and state recognition of the suffering they endured. Some called for compensation. Others simply demanded an open trial where the full extent of his crimes could be aired publicly.
Legal Proceedings Ahead
As of June 24, 2025, Akinwande remains in police custody at the SCID in Panti, Yaba. The Lagos Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) has confirmed he will face multiple charges, including:
- Murder under Section 319 of the Criminal Code
- Unlawful possession of firearms under the Firearms Act
- Cultism under the Lagos State Anti-Cultism Law of 2021
- Conspiracy to commit felony
- Forgery and identity fraud under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition) Act
Authorities have also indicated that further indictments could be added as investigations progress, particularly if evidence from the recovered gang ledger links him to unsolved crimes.
The Structural Problem
Akinwande’s case is not an isolated example of delayed justice. Analysts have argued that his decade-long evasion reflects larger issues within Nigeria’s criminal justice system:
- Poor witness protection mechanisms
- Police collusion
- Weak evidence handling and case documentation
- Limited cross-state intelligence sharing
- Fear-driven silence from communities
Even now, civil society organizations warn that the strength of the case against Akinwande will depend heavily on witness testimonies and the legal admissibility of the materials recovered during his arrest.
Community Reflection
For residents of Mushin, the arrest is not just about closure — it is about credibility. The community has endured years of fear, silence, and unacknowledged loss.
Several local leaders have urged the state government to use the case as a springboard for broader security reforms, including improved policing, community patrols, and localized justice outreach.
Some residents remain skeptical. They’ve seen high-profile arrests before that led to nothing. The question is not just whether Akinwande will be prosecuted, but whether his network — those who sheltered, funded, and protected him — will also be dismantled.
Why It Still Hurts
The damage done by Olori Eso goes beyond the headline crimes.
It hurt public trust. Every release, every failed arrest, told communities that some people were above the law.
It created fear. Residents in Mushin learned not to report, not to testify, and not to speak out.
It stalled healing. For victims’ families, justice delayed felt like justice denied.
The legacy of his actions still lingers in neighborhoods where his name was once enough to end conversations.
Closing Reflection
The arrest of Wasiu Akinwande — Olori Eso — is a milestone in Lagos’s fight against organized crime. But it is also a reminder: violence leaves a mark long after the last gunshot. Mushin still bears that mark.
Whether this arrest leads to true justice will depend not only on the court proceedings ahead, but on the willingness of institutions to finally address the systemic failures that kept a man like him free for so long.
Until then, the pain remains — not just in memory, but in the still-unanswered question:
Why did it take so long?
Discussion about this post