Lagos police parade 520 suspects arrested for arson, looting

A total of 520 suspects arrested in different parts of Lagos for robbery, arson, looting and other offences have been paraded by the state police command.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, on Tuesday, said the 520 suspects were arrested after the mayhem unleashed on the state during the unrest that followed the #EndSARS protest in the state.

The police commissioner stated this during a press briefing held at the command’s headquarters in the Ikeja area of the state.

He said none of those arrested was a member of the #EndSARS protesters, adding that all the suspects would be prosecuted.

Odumosu lamented that what started as a peaceful protest by concerned youths was hijacked by hoodlums ostensibly to rob innocent people of their valuables, adding that they indeed wrecked havoc in many parts of the state.

“A lot of public and private facilities were set ablaze; our police stations were also burnt and vandalised.

“Based on the incidents, the command swung into action, realising that this is no more #EndSARS (protest), where lives and property are lost and vandalised and burnt. We realised that the protest had been hijacked by hoodlums; so we moved in and we were able to recover some of the stolen items and arrested the perpetrators.

“So far, 520 suspects have been arrested for various offences, ranging from arson, robbery, murder, rioting, malicious damage, and unlawful possession of firearms. All the suspects we have arrested are not #EndSARS protesters and they will all be charged (to court).”