A routine stop-and-search operation along the Lekki-Epe Expressway has taken a turn after Lagos police arrested a 21-year-old man allegedly found with a suspected human hand, locally made firearms, and items believed to have been stolen from robbery victims.
The discovery has raised fresh concerns about violent crime and the possible connection between armed robbery and other criminal activities.
However, police say investigations are still underway to determine the origin of the recovered body part and the circumstances surrounding its possession.
According to the Lagos State Police Command, the suspect, identified as Samson Onilewaji, was intercepted during a stop-and-search operation along the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
Police spokesperson, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, said the suspect was travelling inside an unregistered commercial shuttle bus carrying six occupants when security operatives conducted a search.
The operation, which was aimed at preventing crime, led officers to recover several suspicious items from the suspect.
Among the recovered exhibits were a suspected human right hand, two locally made pistols, one live cartridge, two axes, one Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal, and five ATM cards.
Speaking on the development, the police spokesperson said:
“During a search of the vehicle and its occupants, the suspect, identified as Samson Onilewaji, ‘M’, aged 21 years, was found in possession of a suspected human right hand, two locally made pistols, one live cartridge, two axes, one POS terminal machine, and five ATM cards.”
Furthermore, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly confessed to recently robbing three individuals of their belongings.
Police said some of the recovered items, including the POS terminal and ATM cards, were believed to have been stolen during those attacks.
Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to identify the victims and return their recovered property.
Authorities believe the investigation could uncover additional crimes linked to the suspect.
The case has also prompted investigators to focus on the origin of the suspected human hand.
Police say forensic examinations and further questioning will help determine who the body part belongs to and why it was in the suspect’s possession.
Addressing the ongoing investigation, the command stated:
“Investigation is also ongoing to ascertain the identity of the owner of the recovered suspected human hand, the circumstances surrounding its possession, and its intended use.”
Moreover, detectives are examining whether the suspect acted alone or was part of a larger criminal network.
In addition, intelligence gathering continues to play a major role in identifying suspects before more offences are committed.
Residents have also been encouraged to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or criminal activities through official security channels.
