Gun battles, black spot raids, and a sweeping crackdown on armed gangs and juvenile criminals have put both Imo and Lagos states on edge as security forces launched aggressive operations leading to the arrest of 32 suspects. The police confirmed that several high-caliber weapons were recovered, with shocking revelations about past terror attacks and future plans by the arrested individuals.
Nine notorious suspects were busted in Imo State during a tactical raid led by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit on May 31, 2025. The operation, acting on intelligence, targeted Eke Eziama in Ahiazu Mbaise, where a fierce shootout ensued. One of the key suspects, 34-year-old John Bosco Onuocha, believed to be a mastermind behind several deadly attacks on security operatives and traditional rulers, was apprehended with a gunshot wound. He later confessed to receiving arms from a wanted militia leader known as B44.
Weapons recovered at the scene included a General Purpose Machine Gun, two chain magazines with over 200 live rounds, an AK-47 rifle without a breach number, 56 rounds of ammunition, and four loaded magazines. Onuocha, currently receiving medical treatment in Owerri, admitted that his group was planning a resurgence of terror activities across the state.
Simultaneously, another bust in Njaba LGA led to the arrest of six more individuals, including three suspected terrorists—Ozioma Ihedoro (aka Mazi Oz), Uchenna Opara (aka Nta-Nta Mmiri), and Amaefule Emeka (aka Odopu)—linked to the 2021 attack on the Federal Correctional Centre. Emeka confessed during interrogation, further implicating five accomplices who were swiftly arrested. Arms and criminal charms were recovered during the operation.
In Lagos, police operatives stormed Mushin following a public outcry over a surge in daylight robberies and assaults. Between June 2 and June 3, 2025, twenty-three teenage suspects, aged between 14 and 16, were rounded up during coordinated raids in the Ishaga, Awolowo, and Ojuwoye areas. The teens were allegedly involved in shoplifting, street assaults, and harassment of innocent citizens, creating a wave of fear across the commercial hubs.
Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh, responded by deploying the Police Mobile Force (PMF), tactical units, and conventional teams to restore order. The Lagos Command confirmed that normalcy has returned, while assuring residents of tighter collaboration with local governments to sustain the peace. Strategic plans have also been developed to prevent a resurgence of teenage criminal gangs.
All suspects from both states are undergoing investigations and will be charged to court upon conclusion. Authorities are calling for public cooperation to sustain the momentum in dismantling criminal networks across Nigeria’s urban centers. Emergency tip lines have also been activated to report suspicious activity.
