● AIG Jimoh: “Once you commit crime anywhere, we will fish you out” as principal suspect Joshua arrested June 1
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, in collaboration with INTERPOL Nigeria, have arrested a fleeing suspect linked to a high-profile burglary involving properties worth about N150 million in Lagos.
Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, disclosed this Monday during a press briefing, describing the arrest as another major breakthrough in crime detection within the zone.
—“He escaped to Canada. We’ve been on his trail”—
According to the AIG, the crime was committed on July 11, 2025, when a gang broke into a residential property in GRA, Ikeja, and carted away valuables worth hundreds of millions of naira.
He said six suspects connected to the incident were earlier arrested, charged to court and remanded, while the principal suspect, identified as Joshua, allegedly fled Nigeria for Canada to evade arrest.
“On the 11th of July, 2025, a case of burglary and stealing in a residential area was reported to the Zone 2 Headquarters, where properties worth hundreds of millions of naira were carted away by unknown persons,” Jimoh said.
“The zone promptly commenced investigation and six suspects directly connected to the offence were apprehended. These suspects have been charged to court and remanded in prison custody. But the principal suspect, Joshua, escaped to Canada. Since then, the police have been on his trail.”
—Arrested on return from Canada—
Jimoh explained that investigations revealed the suspect was an accountant to the late owner of the burgled property, while the deceased’s daughter lodged the complaint. INTERPOL Nigeria was contacted on July 16, 2025, to track the fleeing suspect across borders.
The sustained collaboration yielded results on June 1, 2026, when the 50-year-old suspect was arrested while attempting to re-enter Nigeria from Canada through an international airline.
“I want to say that yesterday, June 1, 2026, the efforts being put together by the Zone 2 Headquarters and INTERPOL Nigeria yielded positive results. Joshua, 50 years old, was arrested while trying to sneak into Nigeria from Canada,” he said.
According to him, the suspect was apprehended around 9:30 p.m. while disembarking from an international flight at Murtala Muhammed International Airport. He has made a confessional statement and will be arraigned after investigations.
—“No hiding place for criminals”—
AIG Jimoh stressed that the arrest underscored the effectiveness of partnership between the Nigeria Police Force and INTERPOL in combating transnational crime.
“This is to let everybody know that once you commit any crime anywhere in this country, wherever you run to across the world, you will be fished out and arrested. There is a very active synergy between the Nigeria Police Force, INTERPOL Nigeria and other international security agencies,” he added.
He said investigators are also working to track down other accomplices, including receivers of the stolen items, and assured Nigerians that every crime reported within the zone will be thoroughly investigated.
