Police arraign ‘hired assassin’ accused of terrorising Lagos communities since 2009

Wasiu Akinwande, a suspected hired killer popularly known as ‘Olori Eso’, has been arraigned by the police before a magistrate court in Ogba.

 Akinwande, who the police describe as the “most wanted vicious and notorious hired killer in the history of Lagos state in recent times”, was arrested on June 20 in his hideout in the Agbado area of Ogun state after several attempts by the police tactical squad.

The police said the 44-year-old suspect and his gang terrorised Lagos suburbs from 2009 to 2024, organising and executing a series of armed robberies, cold-blooded murders, kidnappings and cult-related killings.

In a statement on Tuesday, Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesperson of the Lagos state police command, said Hundeyin was arraigned on 11 counts bordering on murder, unlawful possession of arms, and felony, among others.

“Wasiu Akinwande aka Olori Eso is currently being arraigned at the Ogba Magistrate Court on an eleven-count charge,” Hundeyin said in a post on X.

In one of the counts, Akinwande is charged for the alleged murder of Bankole Yusuf and Ramadan Yusuf on July 31, 2024, in the Mushin area of the state.

Another of the counts stated that on December 9, 2010, the suspect killed 10-year-old Aminat Lateef, who was on an errand in the Fadeyi area of Lagos state.

Akinwande was charged with knowingly and unlawfully killing five people (Ayinla, Ojaja, and three unknown persons) by shooting them with AK-47 rifles during a clash involving his faction of an unlawful society on July 31, 2024. This offence is punishable under Section 223 of the Lagos State law.

He was also charged with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, including a K2 assault rifle, two AK-47 rifles, two locally made pistols, large quantities of ammunition, cartridges, walkie-talkies, and a poisonous dagger, all of which he could not satisfactorily account for. This offence falls under Section 27 of the Firearm Act.

Akinwande was charged with attempted murder for allegedly attempting to kill Awawu Ajalara, 58, by shooting both her legs with an AK-47 rifle on February 17, 2011. This offence is punishable under Section 230(a) of the Lagos state law.