Nigerian police arraign suspected Lagos assassin Olori Eso for murder

A suspected hired assassin, Wasiu Akinwande, popularly called Olori Eso, arrested by the operatives of the Lagos State Police Command, has been arraigned at the Ogba Magistrate Court, Ogba area of the state, on 11 counts bordering on murder, unlawful possession of arms, and felony, among others.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, in a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. 

“Wasiu Akinwande aka Olori Eso is currently being arraigned at the Ogba Magistrate Court on an eleven-count charge,” Hundeyin said.

It was earlier reported that Akinwande, 44, described by the police as “the most wanted vicious and notorious hired killer in Lagos,” was arrested in July following a covert tactical operation codenamed ‘Silence, Speed and Surprise’ executed by the Command’s Tactical Squad.

He was nabbed at his hideout in the Agbado area of neighbouring Ogun State after evading arrest for years.

The police say Akinwande is the leader of a deadly gang responsible for over a decade of violent crimes, including murder, armed robbery, cult-related killings, and kidnappings— especially in the Mushin axis of Lagos State.

The 44-year-old man was apprehended during a coordinated tactical operation code-named ‘Silence, Speed and Surprise’ carried out by the Command’s Tactical Squad in his hideout in the Agbado area of Ogun State.

In a statement issued in July, Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson of the state command, had said Akinwande, who is known for terrorizing Mushin and surrounding areas, was trailed to Ogun after efforts to nab him 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 of leading several deadly gangs responsible for over a decade of violent crimes including armed robbery, murder, cult-related killings, and kidnappings.

Hundeyin had disclosed, “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 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 said four families had come forward to identify Akinwande as the person behind the killings of their relatives.