A suspected notorious assassin, Wasiu Akinwande, popularly known as Olori Eso, has been arraigned before the Ogba Magistrate Court in Lagos on 11 counts bordering on murder, unlawful possession of firearms, and other related offences.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the 44-year-old suspect was apprehended during a coordinated operation codenamed “Silence, Speed and Surprise” carried out by the Command’s Tactical Squad in his hideout in the Agbado area of Ogun State.
Described as one of the most wanted and violent hired killers in Lagos, Akinwande had allegedly been responsible for a series of deadly attacks in Mushin and surrounding areas.
He was eventually tracked to Ogun State after previous attempts to capture him within Lagos failed.
“Wasiu Akinwande aka Olori Eso is currently being arraigned at the Ogba Magistrate Court on an eleven-count charge,” Hundeyin stated.
The police also recovered a significant cache of weapons and other incriminating materials from the suspect’s residence, including two AK-47 rifles, a K2 assault rifle, locally made pistols, live ammunition, cartridges, walkie-talkies, and a poisonous dagger. Akinwande reportedly admitted to using these items during his operations.
Among the charges, Akinwande is accused of the murder of Bankole Yusuf and Ramadan Yusuf on July 31, 2024, in Mushin. He is also alleged to have fatally shot a 10-year-old girl, Aminat Lateef, on December 9, 2010, in the Fadeyi area of Lagos while she was running an errand.
Court documents further revealed that on July 31, 2024, Akinwande and other still-at-large accomplices killed multiple individuals during a factional clash in the Idi-Araba area of Lagos.
He was said to have used AK-47 rifles during the incident before fleeing to Alagbado, where he was eventually arrested.
Additionally, on February 17, 2011, the suspect allegedly shot and severely injured a 58-year-old woman, Awawu Ajalara, leaving her permanently disabled.
The offences are said to be in contravention of several provisions of the Lagos State Criminal Law of 2015 and the Firearms Act of the Federation of Nigeria.
The police have confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and efforts are being made to apprehend other members of the gang who remain at large.