Lagos Police Arrest Six in Major Cargo Diversion Case

On September 26, 2026, operatives from the Lagos State Police Command's Anti-Kidnapping Unit arrested six individuals involved in a cargo diversion syndicate. This operation followed complaints from importers regarding the disappearance of consignments collected from the Apapa Port.

The arrested suspects include gang leaders Jamiu Lateef and 45-year-old Abubakar Amadu, along with Aliu Olanshile, Opeyemi Oyewale, Hassana Malami, and Hassana Haruna. SP Abimbola Adebisi, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, characterized the operation as a "major breakthrough." The syndicate is one of two organized groups engaged in large-scale goods diversion in Nigeria, with the second group reportedly operating from Kaduna.

The suspects allegedly targeted high-value consignments using legitimate transportation arrangements to access imported goods. They monitored requests from importers and transport companies and utilized WhatsApp platforms to secure transportation jobs, after which they would disappear with the goods, complicating tracing efforts.