Lagos Police have arrested a 21-year-old man after officers allegedly found a suspected human hand, firearms and stolen items in his possession.
Lagos State — The Lagos State Police Command has arrested Samson Onilewaji, 21, after he was allegedly found with a suspected human hand, firearms and stolen items during a stop-and-search operation along the Lekki-Epe Expressway. According to a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, the suspect was intercepted inside an unregistered commercial shuttle bus carrying six occupants.
Police said officers searched the vehicle and its passengers and recovered a suspected human right hand, two locally made pistols, one live cartridge, two axes, a point-of-sale terminal and five ATM cards from the suspect. The command described the items as exhibits and said the recovery followed routine security checks in the area.
According to the statement, Onilewaji later confessed to recently robbing three people of their personal belongings, including the recovered POS terminal and ATM cards. The police said efforts are ongoing to identify and contact the victims so their belongings can be returned.
Adebisi said investigators have also launched a separate inquiry into the origin of the suspected human hand. The police spokesperson said officers are working to establish the identity of its owner, the circumstances surrounding its possession and its intended use.
The Lagos State Police Command has stepped up stop-and-search operations in parts of the state in response to security concerns and reports of violent crimes. Such operations have led to the recovery of illegal weapons and the arrest of suspects in recent months.
The development means investigators now face the task of determining whether the recovered human part is linked to any missing person or other criminal activity. The outcome of the investigation could also provide more information about the suspect’s alleged activities and whether additional suspects were involved.
