A viral video showing notorious Lagos gang leader, Wasiu Akinwande, popularly known as Olori Eso, in handcuffs at the Ogba Magistrate Court, has set social media abuzz after the Lagos State Police Command formally arraigned him on multiple serious charges including murder, illegal possession of firearms, and attempted murder.
The Lagos Police Command, through its spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development in a statement issued Tuesday, describing the 44-year-old suspect as the “most wanted vicious and notorious hired killer” who had been on the run for years.
Akinwande was eventually captured in a covert operation by the Police Tactical Squad tagged “Silence, Speed, and Surprise” at his hideout in Agbado, Ogun State. During the arrest, officers recovered a large cache of firearms, including AK-47 rifles, K2 rifles, locally made pistols, live ammunition, walkie-talkies, and a poisonous dagger.
The charges against Olori Eso, now made public, are deeply damning. One of the eleven counts read in court alleged that Akinwande and his gang were responsible for the fatal shooting of five unidentified individuals during a violent gang clash in the Idi-Araba area of Lagos on July 31, 2024. He reportedly used AK-47 rifles during the incident before fleeing the state.
Another charge stated that Akinwande had attempted to kill a 58-year-old woman, Awawu Ajalara, in 2011 by shooting her in both legs — an attack that left her permanently disabled.
According to the police, the suspect failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the firearms and ammunition found in his possession, breaching several sections of the Lagos State Criminal Law and the Nigerian Firearms Act.
Following the court session, the Magistrate ordered that Olori Eso be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility until his next court appearance scheduled for September 4, 2025.
SEE VIDEO OF HIS ARRAIGNMENT BELOW
The case has reignited concerns over the proliferation of illegal weapons and the continued menace of armed gangs operating across Lagos and Ogun states. Authorities say investigations are ongoing to track down other gang members who remain at large.