ALAGBON BURSTS BIG: AIG AKPANUDOM PARADES TELECOM VANDALS, PHONE THIEVES AND FAKE NEWS MERCHANTS AS FCID ANNEX RECORDS 1,816 PETITIONS IN 3 MONTHS
It was a harvest of breakthroughs at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos on Thursday, as the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Annex, AIG Simeon U Akpanudom psc, fdc, mspsp, MNIM, FCAI, reeled out major operational successes recorded between June 25 and September 18, 2026.
Addressing gentlemen of the press, the no-nonsense AIG said his command is not sleeping on the job of protecting critical national assets, safeguarding legitimate businesses and putting criminals where they belong – behind bars.
Giving a scorecard of his stewardship, AIG Akpanudom disclosed that the Annex received a whopping 1,816 letters of complaint within the period under review. Out of that number, 9 were referred to State Commissioners of Police for action, 4 were struck out as civil matters, while 1,803 were approved for discreet investigation. 24 cases have already been concluded and charged to various courts, while INTERPOL, working with the Annex, rescued 36 victims of human trafficking and repatriated one person.
But the meat of the briefing was the parade of three high-profile cases that shook the country.
N150M TELECOM MAST VANDALS NABBED IN KOSOFE
First to fall was a four-man syndicate that specialised in vandalising telecommunication infrastructure across the South-East and Lagos State.
According to the AIG, the matter started after PLUTOLORD Solicitors petitioned on behalf of ATC Telecommunications Nationwide that armed hoodlums attacked and looted their facilities in March, April and May 2026, carting away modules, solar batteries, panels and generators worth about N150 million.
Acting on intelligence, crack operatives of the SWAT attached to FCID Annex swooped on a shop at No. 12 Pastor Alabi Close, Kosofe, Lagos and arrested Abuchi Odikemere (29), Anyanwu Emmanuel (28), Kayode Segun (28) and 17-year-old Emmanuel Chineku.
Recovered from them were two surveillance cameras, 52 solar batteries, three small solar panels, two solar meters, one hammer and one chisel. The AIG said manhunt is on for fleeing members of the gang while those in custody will soon have their day in court.
OJOTA SHOP BURGLARY: POLICE SMASH GANG THAT STOLE N20M PHONES
In another breakthrough, detectives cracked the burglary of a phone shop at No. 5 Adebare Street, Ogudu Roundabout, Ojota.
The owner, Ashaye Olalekan, had on May 22 reported that armed men broke into his shop at 3:58am on May 19, destroyed seven CCTV cameras and made away with a vault containing 90 brand new phones, 42 smartwatches, two Oraimo speakers, 105 power banks and accessories valued at N20 million.
Four suspects – three males and a female receiver – were arrested. The police recovered three phones, one power bank, three generators and other electronics. The suspects confessed they had already sold most of the loot to a trans-border receiver. They have been charged to court.
TWO WOMEN ARRESTED OVER VIRAL FAKE NEWS THAT ACCESS BANK WILL SHUT DOWN
The most sensitive case was that of conspiracy, false publication and economic sabotage against Access Bank Plc.
The AIG said Country Hill Attorney & Solicitors, on behalf of Access Bank, petitioned on July 30 over a Facebook post dated July 28 by one Idorenyin Umoh claiming that Access Bank would shut down operations on September 23, 2026 and asking customers to withdraw their money – a post capable of causing bank collapse and national economic crisis.
Discreet investigation led detectives to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where Idorenyin Umoh and her associate, Fineness Monday Esu, were arrested.
Investigation revealed that Fineness posted the malicious falsehood in a WhatsApp group named “Queendom” at 9:04am on July 28, and Idorenyin copied it to her Facebook account “Aidee Umoh” which has over 12,000 followers. Both have been arraigned at the Federal High Court, Lagos.
On reforms, AIG Akpanudom said his administration has prioritised training and welfare. Seventeen additional personnel underwent specialised training, while weekly lectures on human rights and ethical conduct are ongoing. He also undertook working visits to SWAT Adeniji Adele and Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) on September 7.
For infrastructure, he listed completion of sentry slab, photo stand, solar system in the Charge Room, visitors tags and phone cabinets, office signage, renovation of one set of holding cells and general staff toilets. Renovation of the second set of holding cells, tiling and painting are ongoing.
He thanked the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, his supervising DIG Margaret A. Ochalla, the Force Management Team and stakeholders including LSSTF, Lagos State Attorney General, NAFDAC, the Chinese Consul General Yan Yuqing, and the media for their support.
He assured Lagosians that all culpable suspects will be diligently prosecuted and urged the public to continue to supply timely, credible and actionable information to the police.
The message from Alagbon is clear: If you vandalise national infrastructure, steal from legitimate business or spread fake news to cause economic panic, the long arm of the law will catch up with you.
