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Police officers from the Lagos State Command have arraigned a suspected hired assassin, Wasiu Akinwande, at the Ogba Magistrates’ Court on 11 counts, including murder, unlawful possession of firearms, and conspiracy.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Officers arrested 44-year-old Akinwande, popularly known as Olori Eso, during a coordinated tactical operation named Silence, Speed and Surprise. They tracked him to his hideout in the Agbado area of Ogun State after several failed attempts to apprehend him in Lagos.
Hundeyin described Akinwande as the most wanted and notorious hitman responsible for terrorising Mushin and its environs.
Police recovered a large cache of weapons and incriminating materials from Akinwande’s residence. He reportedly confessed to using them in his operations with his criminal gang.
Hundeyin confirmed: “Wasiu Akinwande, also known as Olori Eso, is currently standing trial at the Ogba Magistrates’ Court on an eleven-count charge.”
The charges include the alleged murder of Bankole Yusuf and Ramadan Yusuf in Mushin on 31 July 2024. The prosecution also accuses Akinwande of killing 10-year-old Aminat Lateef in Fadeyi on 9 December 2010 while she was running an errand.
The charge sheet further alleges that Akinwande and others still at large unlawfully killed several unnamed persons during a gang clash, using AK-47 rifles. He then fled to Alagbado, where police eventually arrested him.
Authorities found him in possession of a K2 assault rifle, two AK-47 rifles, two locally made pistols, 70 rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition, 27 rounds of 9mm ammo, 57 cartridges, three walkie-talkies, and a poisonous dagger — none of which he could account for.
Another count accuses him of attempting to murder 58-year-old Awawu Ajalara in February 2011 by shooting both her legs, causing her permanent disability.
Akinwande faces trial under various sections of the Lagos State criminal laws and Nigeria’s Firearms Act.
