In a swift response late Friday night, the Lagos State Police Command led by Police PRO Benjamin Hundeyin, announced the arrest of seven suspects following the hijacking of a fuel tanker in Surulere.
The incident reportedly occurred at approximately 11 p.m., when a group of armed individuals intercepted a fully loaded fuel tanker, forcing the driver off the roads of the busy Lagos district.
“Already we have seven suspects” Hundeyin disclosed during an interview shared by News Central TV, giving the public their first details of the operation. According to the police spokesman, the suspects hijacked the tanker and drove it to a separate location where they transferred the contents into an underground storage facility, a move authorities say was part of a larger, organized theft network.
The Lagos State Police Command, in collaboration with tactical units, launched a targeted raid shortly after the crime was reported. Surveillance and intelligence efforts led officers to the clandestine bunker, where the fuel was being siphoned and stored. It was at this location that all seven suspects were detained without incident.
The police confirm that investigations are ongoing. Authorities are working to trace the full extent of the group’s operations, assess the quantity of fuel stolen and determine how long the underground tank had been in use.
Hundeyin emphasised the need for community cooperation, urging residents in Surulere and adjoining districts to report any unusual activity, particularly involving unlicensed underground storage facilities.
The arrested suspects are being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, Yaba, where they will be arraigned by the office of the Public Prosecutor. Officials believe this bust will serve as a deterrent to other fuel theft rings plaguing the region.
The Lagos Police have signalled their commitment to dismantling organized fuel theft syndicates. With this operation, the Command hopes to strengthen public confidence and ensure safer streets in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
