CRACK Police detectives attached to the Lagos State Police Command have apprehended three individuals suspected of murdering an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and severing his hands.
The arrested suspects are Monday Alfred, Laitan Apanpa (also known as Emir), and Boluwatife Oluwapelumi.
Astute detectives spotted them in the Ikorodu area of the state. The suspects, who have confessed to being members of the notorious Aiye cult group, were observed riding a motorcycle, commonly referred to as an Okada. As the policemen closed in on them, the suspects abandoned their motorcycle and fled into the nearby bushes.
The police managed to apprehend two of the suspects, but Laitan Apanpa (aka Emir) managed to evade capture.
Subsequently, the police discovered a bag in their possession containing the severed hands of the murdered police ASP, who had been assigned to guard a disputed piece of land. Further investigation revealed that Laitan Apanpa had previously been detained at the Lagos Police Command cell for this crime but had escaped during the #EndSARS protest. It was disclosed that all three suspects were working for a notorious land grabber in Ikorodu.
In response to the arrests, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ben Hundeyin, stated that Laitan, who initially managed to escape during the arrest of his accomplices, was later traced to a hiding place in the same Ikorodu area and apprehended.
He assured the public that efforts were underway to apprehend other members of the gang as the police intensified their crackdown.
He said, “On 17th May 2023, at about 1715hrs, three men namely: Monday Alfred ‘m’ aged 32 and Laitan Apanpa aka Emir ‘m’ aged 34 and Oluwapelumi Boluwatife on motorcycle with registration number JGB 276 VU were intercepted by officers on patrol.
During a search operation, authorities discovered two decomposing human hands, along with Techno and Vivo phones, in the possession of two individuals. Although Laitan managed to escape initially, law enforcement agents were able to track him down at his hideout in the Ibode area of Ikorodu, leading to his subsequent arrest.
Further investigation revealed that both suspects were affiliated with the Aiye Confraternity, a notorious cult group. Additionally, it was discovered that Laitan had been detained at Ikeja on charges of murder but had escaped from police custody during the END SARS protest.
The suspects admitted to the gruesome act, stating that the severed hands belonged to an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) whom they murdered during a violent dispute over land ownership. The authorities are currently making efforts to apprehend other members involved in this criminal gang.