Ishashi Police Detectives Intercept Lethal Weapon During High-Risk Night Patrol

In a tactical blow to the criminal underworld operating on the outskirts of Lagos, operatives of the Ishashi Police Division have successfully intercepted a lethal, illegally manufactured firearm during a midnight sweep of the area. The operation, which took place on Tuesday, December 23, 2024, at approximately 10:45 p.m., highlights the intensifying pressure the Lagos State Police Command is applying to suburban crime corridors as the Yuletide festivities reach their peak.

The breakthrough occurred during a high-visibility stop-and-search exercise spearheaded by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and the elite Anti-Crime Unit. While patrolling the Ishashi axis—a region that has seen recent efforts to curb cult-related skirmishes—officers flagged down a suspicious entity, leading to the discovery of a locally fabricated, cut-to-size double-barrel gun. Tucked away with the weapon were two live cartridges, ready for immediate use, suggesting a violent criminal intent that was thwarted by the timely intervention of the patrol team.

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, speaking through the command’s official channels, lauded the proactive stance of the Ishashi team. The recovery is being framed not just as an isolated success, but as a validation of the command’s “Preventive Policing” directive. By deploying over 5,000 personnel across the state’s highways and inner-city arteries this December, the police have made it increasingly difficult for illicit weapons to be transported across the metropolis.

The Ishashi recovery underscores the evolving nature of the security threat in the state’s border communities. Locally made, cut-to-size firearms have become the weapon of choice for “one-chance” robbers and cultists due to their concealability. By removing such a weapon from circulation, the police have likely prevented a significant robbery or an assassination attempt. The command emphasized that the stop-and-search strategy, while sometimes seen as a minor inconvenience to motorists, remains a critical filter for sifting criminal elements from law-abiding citizens.

Public safety in the Ishashi area has been a focal point for the command following a series of cult-related clashes earlier this year. The presence of the DPO on the front lines during the Tuesday night operation was a deliberate show of force intended to reassure residents that the police have not ceded the night to hoodlums. The command’s statement on Friday morning reaffirmed that intelligence-driven patrols would remain a round-the-clock feature of the festive season to ensure that the “Seat of Excellence” remains hostile to criminal enterprise.

As the investigation continues to trace the origin of the recovered firearm, the Lagos State Police Command is urging residents to remain vigilant. The Commissioner has reiterated that the success of the 5,000-man deployment depends heavily on the “see something, say something” philosophy. With the New Year celebrations approaching, the Ishashi interception serves as a stark warning to those harboring illegal arms: the net is tightening, and the night patrols are only getting more frequent.