By Ibrahim Salaudeen
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested whom it described as the “most wanted vicious and notorious hired killer” in the history of Lagos in recent years.
Identified as Wasiu Akinwande and popularly called Olori Eso, the
44-year-old man was apprehended during a coordinated tactical operation code-named ‘Silence, Speed and Surprise’ carried out in a hideout in the Agbado area of Ogun State by operatives of the Lagos Command’s Tactical Squad.
Akinwande said to be is currently in custody under heavy security and he will “face the full weight of the law for all his crimes,” according to the police.
A statement on Friday, Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson of the state command, said Akinwande who is known for terrorising Mushin and surrounding areas was trailed to Ogun after efforts to arrest him the Centre of Excellence were unsuccessful.
“Arrest of most wanted vicious and notorious hired killer and head of killers gang in the history of Lagos State in recent time, Wasiu Akinwade a.k.a. Olori Eso, and recovery of nine (9) sophisticated firearms, ammunition, magazines, dagger, walkie-talkies and international passports,” the statement partly read.
The suspect is accused him of leading several deadly gangs responsible for over a decade of violent crimes, including robbery, murder, cult-related killings, and kidnappings.
Hundeyin stated, ” This serial killer suspect is the most wanted suspect in Lagos history in recent time.
“His arrest marks a huge success in the ongoing fight against violent crimes that are threats to security and safety of residents in Mushin and some other parts of Lagos State.”
According to the statement, the police recovered a large cache of weapons and incriminating items from Akinwande’s residence, which the suspect “freely admitted he was using for his killing operations with his gang.”
“The recovered items include: Two (2) AK-47 rifles, one (1) K2 assault rifle, one (1) Red Ryder rifle, three (3) pump action rifles, two (2) locally made single-barrel pistols, five (5) magazines, fifty-seven (57) live cartridges, seventy (70) 5.56 live ammunition, twenty-seven (27) 9mm ammunition, one (1) expended 5.56 ammunition, one (1) dagger, three (3) walkie-talkies, nine (9) international passports belonging to different individuals,” Hundeyin stated.
The Command also said Akinwande’s crimes left deep scars on victims’ families and the public.
“Akinwande’s criminal activities have left trauma, horror, agony and pains in the families of victims of his numerous high-profile crimes under investigation by the Lagos State Police Command.”
It was revealed that the Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh has ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police at the State Criminal Investigation Department to lead an expanded investigation and arrest other suspects linked to the killings.
“The Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has been directed by the Commissioner of Police to lead other specially selected crack detectives to broaden the investigation of the cases and round up all other suspects linked to Wasiu Akinwande and bring them to justice.”
Hundeyin revealed that no fewer than four families have come forward to identify Akinwande as the person behind the killings of their relatives.
Full text of police statement
ARREST OF MOST WANTED VICIOUS AND NOTORIOUS HIRED KILLER AND HEAD OF KILLERS GANG IN THE HISTORY OF LAGOS STATE IN RECENT TIME, WASIU AKINWADE A.K.A OLORI ESO AND RECOVERY OF NINE (9) SOPHISTICATED FIREARMS, AMMUNITION, MAGAZINES, DAGGER, WALKIE TALKIES AND INTERNATIONAL PASSPORTS
I. TWO (2) AK-47 RIFLES
II. ONE (1) K2 ASSAULT RIFLE
III. ONE (1) RED RYDER RIFLE
IV. THREE (3) PUMP ACTION RIFLES
V. TWO (2) LOCALLY MADE SINGLE-BARREL PISTOLS
VI. FIVE (5) MAGAZINES
VII. FIFTY-SEVEN (57) LIVE CARTRIDGES
VIII. SEVENTY (70) 5.56 LIVE AMMUNITION
IX. TWENTY-SEVEN (27) 9MM AMMUNITION
X. ONE (1) EXPENDED 5.56 AMMUNITION
XI. ONE (1) DAGGER
XII. THREE (3) WALKIE-TALKIES
XIII. NINE (9) INTERNATIONAL PASSPORTS BELONGING TO DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS
The Lagos State Police Command wishes to inform the general public of a significant breakthrough in its relentless fight against crime of violence and other criminalities in Lagos State. Today, June 20, 2025, Tactical Squad operatives of the Command successfully in a well-coordinated special operation code-named Silence, Speed and Surprise trailed and arrested Wasiu Akinwande aka Olori Eso, a 44-year-old notorious hired killer and head of killers gang and cultist kingpin who along with his multiple gangs and hoodlums have been terrorizing Mushin area of Lagos State and its environs. This serial killer suspect is the most wanted suspect in Lagos history in recent time. His arrest marks a huge success in the ongoing fight against violent crimes that are threats to security and safety of residents in Mushin and some other parts of Lagos State.
Wasiu Akinwande was arrested in his hideout in the Agbado area of Ogun State after several attempts by the Police Tactical Squad. For over a decade now from 2009 until 2024, Wasiu Akinwande and his gangs have terrorized the people and communities, particularly in the Mushin area of Lagos State. He was responsible for organizing and executing series of armed robberies, cold blooded murders, kidnappings and cult-related killings. His reign of terror instilled fear and apprehension in residents and posed a dangerous threat to law and order.
Akinwande’s criminal activities have left trauma, horror, agony and pains in the families of victims of his numerous high-profile crimes under investigation by the Lagos State Police Command. Despite his escapes from one state of the country to another over the years, the Lagos State Police Command remained resolute in its pursuit of Justice. The operatives of the Command raided his house in Mushin, and recovered cache of weapons and incriminating items he freely admitted he was using for his killing operations with his gang. The firearms recovered include: Two (2) AK-47 rifles, One (1) K2 Assault rifle, One (1) Red Ryder rifle , Three (3) pump action rifles , Two (2) locally made single-barrel pistols, Five (5) magazines, Fifty-seven (57) live cartridges, Seventy (70) 5.56 live ammunition, Twenty-seven (27) 9mm ammunition, One (1) expended 5.56 ammunition, One (1) dagger, Three (3) walkie-talkies and Nine (9) international passports belonging to different individuals.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has been directed by the Commissioner of Police to lead other specially selected crack detectives to broaden the investigation of the cases and round up all other suspects linked to Wasiu Akinwande and bring them to justice. Four families have already come forward to identify him as the suspect behind the killings of their children and wards.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, hereby wishes to reassure all Lagosians that their safety and security remain the top priority of the Command. CP Jimoh commends all the officers involved in this operation for their bravery and dedication and urges the public to continue supporting the police by providing timely and credible information to aid its crime-fighting efforts.
Wasiu Akinwande is currently in Police custody under heavy security and will face the full weight of the law for all his crimes. The Lagos State Police Command remains steadfast in its mission to make Lagos a no-go area for criminals and ensure safety and security of all Lagosians and visitors alike.
The Command calls on residents to remain vigilant, and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station and await the outcome of police investigation which definitely will be made public.
CSP BENJAMIN HUNDEYIN, anipr, mipra�POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER�FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE�LAGOS STATE COMMAND�IKEJA
JUNE 20, 2025
