Nigerian Army have conducted coordinated raids on criminal hideouts in the Oshodi and Mushin areas of Lagos State, as part of ongoing efforts to combat violence and restore public safety.
The operations, led by Brigade Commander Brigadier General Matthew Oyekola, were carried out in collaboration with local vigilante groups and officers of the Man-O-War, reflecting a joint security approach to tackling criminal activities in the state.
The recent exercise is in line with the commitment made by Brig Gen Oyekola during a visit to the Lagos State House of Assembly in September 2024, where the army assured lawmakers of its resolve to eliminate criminal elements threatening the peace and security of law-abiding residents across the state.
“The army has been raiding the miscreants in Oshodi and Mushin. These are the hoodlums who spoke hemp and hide under bridges.
“They are smokers and gamblers in the daytime and armed robbers at night. The Brigade recently raided a number of them and handed them over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution,” an officer said.
On Tuesday, the army brigade donated an operational vehicle to the Lagos State Command of Man-O-War Nigeria, as part of efforts to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and improve security response in the state.
During the handover ceremony, Brigade Commander Brigadier General Matthew Oyekola explained that the vehicle, previously an abandoned OP MESA asset, was refurbished and repurposed to support the Man-O-War’s intelligence-gathering and information-sharing capabilities in aid of the brigade’s operations.
Brig Gen Oyekola expressed confidence that the donation would boost Man-O-War’s responsiveness and enhance their ability to act swiftly when called upon to provide actionable intelligence.
In response, the Commander of Man-O-War Lagos State Command, Engineer Lucky Onimowo, expressed gratitude for the gesture and pledged that the vehicle would be deployed effectively to support the 9 Brigade’s operations across the state.
