Ex-convicts arrested in Lagos over alleged N50m theft

Two ex-convict, Ekjike Ani, 32, and Chubuzor Anasihwe, 31, have been arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command over alleged theft operations alongside the Ife-Ilesha Expressway in Osun State, the place 5 autos and valuables estimated at N50m have been reportedly stolen.

The suspects have been arrested at separate areas in Lagos by operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit after months of investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, who disclosed on Friday, October 16, 2026 mentioned that preliminary investigations linked the suspects to theft incidents allegedly dedicated on August 20 and September 20, 2026.

According to him, the arrests adopted a directive by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to accentuate the combat towards felony actions nationwide.

During interrogation, the suspects reportedly revealed that they met whereas serving jail phrases on the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos and later reunited after their launch,” he mentioned.

Ani, an indigene of Ebonyi State and a former garments vendor, blamed his alleged involvement in theft on poverty, money owed and his mom’s medical bills.

He mentioned he returned to his village after his launch from jail in January 2026 however grew to become pissed off by his incapability to fulfill his mom’s eye surgical procedure bills, estimated at N800,000, and settle excellent money owed.

Ani mentioned he subsequently contacted a former jail acquaintance, recognized as Chinedu, who invited him to Lagos and launched him to different alleged gang members.

He claimed the gang initially deserted an tried theft after motorists have been alerted to their presence, however later returned to the freeway, the place they allegedly dispossessed three males aiding occupants of a broken-down car of a Toyota Corolla, cellphones and money.

He additional alleged that the gang later snatched a bus throughout heavy rainfall and robbed a car belonging to a conventional ruler.

Ani claimed the monarch and his driver escaped, whereas the gang took valuables from the car.

He alleged that he obtained solely N20,000 in two separate funds as his share of the proceeds from one of many operations.

He additionally claimed the gang typically used sticks wrapped in sellotape and fireworks to mimic firearms.

Anasihwe, who additionally beforehand offered garments on Lagos Island, mentioned he met Ani in jail whereas serving a sentence following a combat with two passengers throughout his time as a business motorcyclist.

He mentioned they reunited in Ijora after their launch and subsequently participated in a theft operation.

However, he denied involvement within the theft involving the standard ruler, claiming he had already been arrested.

Meanwhile, investigations have been nonetheless ongoing to determine the suspects’ respective roles within the alleged robberies.