The Lagos State Police Command’s Tactical Squad has captured Wasiu Akinwande, alias “Olori Eso,” a 44‑year‑old, suspected cultist kingpin, hired killer, and leader of a violent gang that has instilled fear across Mushin and its environs for over a decade.
In a statement, Command Spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin described Akinwande as one of the most wanted criminals in recent Lagos history. He was arrested in Agbado, Ogun State, following a carefully coordinated manhunt by the Tactical Squad.
From 2009 to 2024, Akinwande allegedly orchestrated a reign of terror—carrying out armed robberies, kidnappings, cold-blooded murders, and cult-related killings. “His gang’s criminal activity inflicted trauma, horror, agony and pain on families in Mushin,” Hundeyin noted, revealing that several victims’ families have identified Akinwande as responsible for the killings.
During the raid on his Mushin hideout, police recovered a large cache of weapons:
2 AK‑47 rifles, 1 K2 assault rifle, 1 Red Ryder rifle, 3 pump‑action rifles, 2 single-barrel pistols, 5 magazines, 57 live cartridges, 70 rounds of 5.56, 27 rounds of 9 mm, plus 1 spent 5.56 casing, 1 dagger, 3 walkie‑talkies, and 9 international passports belonging to different individuals.
Deputy Commissioner of Police at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has been tasked with broadening the investigations, and identifying all accomplices linked to Akinwande. Families of at least four victims have already come forward to formally recognize him.
Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, reassures Lagosians that ensuring safety and security remains the command’s top priority. He praised the Tactical Squad for their persistence and expressed confidence that this arrest marks a significant blow to violent criminal networks in the state.
