Akinwande, aged 44, was captured in the early hours of Friday, June 20, 2025, during a highly strategic and intelligence-driven operation codenamed “Silence, Speed and Surprise.” He was tracked and arrested in his hideout located in Agbado, Ogun State, bringing to an end over a decade of terror across Mushin and other parts of Lagos State.
According to the Lagos State Police Command, Akinwande is not just a contract killer, but the head of a deadly gang linked to multiple armed robberies, cold-blooded murders, cult killings, and kidnappings stretching back to 2009. His reign of terror left countless families in mourning and entire communities living in fear.
Following his arrest, police officers raided his former base in Mushin where a large cache of arms and incriminating items were recovered. The items include:
- Two (2) AK-47 rifles
- One (1) K2 Assault rifle
- One (1) Red Ryder rifle
- Three (3) Pump action rifles
- Two (2) Locally made single-barrel pistols
- Five (5) Magazines
- Fifty-seven (57) Live cartridges
- Seventy (70) rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition
- Twenty-seven (27) rounds of 9mm ammunition
- One (1) Expended 5.56mm ammunition
- One (1) Dagger
- Three (3) Walkie-talkies
- Nine (9) International passports belonging to different individuals
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, described the arrest as a “landmark victory” in the fight to reclaim communities from the grip of violent crime. “This is a man who, alongside his gangs, unleashed violence and death in ways that traumatized entire neighborhoods. His arrest is a powerful statement that crime will not go unpunished,” he said.
CP Jimoh further disclosed that the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), has been assigned to lead a special team of detectives to deepen the investigation and track down all accomplices and gang members connected to Akinwande’s criminal network.
Already, four families have stepped forward to identify Akinwande as the man responsible for the gruesome killing of their children and relatives.
In a statement signed by Police Public Relations Officer CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos Police Command assured residents of continued efforts to make the state uninhabitable for criminals. “We are committed to ensuring Lagos remains a safe place for everyone. We urge the public to remain vigilant and continue supporting the police with timely and credible information,” Hundeyin said.
Wasiu Akinwande is currently in custody and will be prosecuted for a long list of violent crimes. His arrest signals a major disruption in the operations of underworld gangs and cult groups across Lagos and serves as a warning to other fugitives still at large.
The Lagos State Police Command calls on all residents to report any suspicious activity or persons to the nearest police station and assures that updates on the case will be made public as investigations continue.
