…nab socialite fence, recover luxury cars
A major breakthrough has been recorded in the war against organised residential robberies in Lagos after operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, smashed a sophisticated burglary syndicate that had been terrorising residents of some of the state’s most exclusive neighbourhoods.
Police authorities said that the syndicate, which operated across Parkview Estate, Banana Island and Lekki Phase One, was dismantled through intelligence-driven surveillance and undercover tracking coordinated by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the zone, AIG Adegoke Fayoade.
Four suspects, a 25-year-old woman and three men aged 30, 34 and 43, were arrested in a sting operation that exposed a carefully organised network involving a field operator, logistics accomplices and a receiver of stolen luxury items.
Investigations began after a series of petitions from residents of Parkview Estate who complained of repeated night burglaries executed without forced entry or neighbourhood alarm.
Detectives soon discovered a disturbing pattern: The robber struck only high-value apartments and disappeared before dawn, leaving behind no fingerprints and minimal disturbance.
Police later uncovered the tactic.
According to AIG Fayoade, the principal suspect, 34, rented a short-let apartment inside a highbrow neighbourhood and used it as a surveillance base.
“He monitored targets for days, then carried out operations wearing hoodies and masks and armed with weapons,” the police boss revealed.
The suspect allegedly confessed to stealing valuables worth over ₦3 billion from residents across Ikoyi and Lekki.
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Recovered from the gang were: two luxury vehicles, jewellery and diamond accessories, designer wristwatches, iPads and high-end mobile phones, knives, crowbars and a plastic pistol.
Detectives also traced a cross-border disposal network.
Part of the stolen jewellery was allegedly moved to Cotonou, Benin Republic, making recovery difficult.
The investigation further led to the arrest of a 43-year-old suspected fence who admitted purchasing stolen gold, diamonds and luxury watches from the gang.
Police say proceeds from the operations financed a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE valued at ₦74 million for the gang’s leader.
The police confirmed that more arrests may follow as investigators track additional buyers and collaborators.
AIG Fayoade assured residents that the command is expanding surveillance within Lagos and Ogun corridors and urged the public to share intelligence on suspicious movements.
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