‘They aren’t real soldiers’ — Lagos police arrest three suspects over ‘killing’ of senator’s aide

Idowu Owohunwa, Lagos state commissioner of police, says operatives of the command have arrested three suspects over the alleged killing of Adeniyi Sanni, an aide to Solomon Adeola, senator representing Ogun west.

On August 5, Sanni was reportedly stopped at a checkpoint in the Ikeja area of Lagos where he was questioned about his vehicle particulars.

He was later found dead with a gunshot wound at the Toyota bus stop in Oshodi.

Adeola had alleged that “a syndicate of soldiers” at the Ikeja cantonment was responsible for the death of his aide.

Speaking on Monday, the police commissioner said the suspects were arrested in Lagos and Oyo states, respectively.

He said those arrested were not personnel of the Nigerian Army but armed robbers and ex-convicts who got connected while serving at the correctional centres in Lagos and Ibadan.

“We present to you today three suspects behind the killing of Mr Sanni Adeniyi, which occurred between 1.00 a.m. and 2.00 a.m. on August 5,” Owohunwa said.

“The arrest of the suspects, one Fred Okunnu, aged 43, Lucky Micheal, aged 33 and Adedigba Segun, aged 26, follows weeks of painstaking, diligent and discreet intelligence and investigative sets of actions.

“Items recovered from the suspects are one Brownie pistol with three rounds of live ammunition, one Beretta pistol with three rounds of live ammunition one locally made cut-to-size pistol with six live cartridges and six expended cartridges.”

The commissioner said the investigation revealed that the gang, who dresses in military attire for operations, specialises in robbing motorists of unregistered vehicles.

He added that the police recovered army gear, including a military camouflage vest, jungle hat, holster, jungle boots, and one red Honda CRV, with Reg. No. EKY 276 JD.