The Lagos State Police Command has announced the arrest of a suspected cult leader and hired killer, Wasiu Akinwande, popularly known as Olori Eso, believed to be responsible for a series of violent crimes in the Mushin area and beyond.
In a statement released Saturday, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, described the 44-year-old Akinwande as “the most wanted suspect in Lagos in recent times,” stating that his arrest marks a major breakthrough in the fight against violent crime in the state.
The suspect, who had been on the run for over a decade, was eventually apprehended by Tactical Squad operatives at his hideout in Agbado, Ogun State. According to the police, Akinwande has been linked to numerous armed robberies, murders, kidnappings, and cult-related killings from 2009 to 2024.
“His criminal activities left trails of trauma and horror,” Hundeyin noted. “He operated across states, evading arrest, but the Command remained committed to bringing him to justice.”
During a raid on his residence in Mushin, police recovered a cache of weapons including two AK-47 rifles, one K2 assault rifle, three pump-action rifles, two locally made pistols, 57 live cartridges, 70 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, and nine international passports belonging to various individuals.
Also recovered were walkie-talkies, a Red Ryder rifle, a dagger, and multiple magazines and ammunition of varying calibres.
Four families have so far identified Akinwande as the person responsible for the killings of their children and wards. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), has been tasked with leading a team of crack detectives to expand investigations and arrest other members of the gang.
Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, assured residents of Lagos that the Command remains dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens, reaffirming its zero tolerance for violent crime.
