A Lagos-based businessman who had been on the run over allegations of multiple murders and destruction of property has been arrested in Benin Republic and extradited to Nigeria by INTERPOL.
Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos, AIG Moshood Jimoh, confirmed the arrest during a press briefing at the Zonal Headquarters in Lagos on Monday, where the suspect was formally handed over to Nigerian authorities.
Jimoh identified the suspect as Ahmed Akanbi, 38, and said he was apprehended on April 15, 2026, at an undisclosed hotel in Cotonou, Benin Republic, after months of tracking by international police operatives. He noted that the suspect had been on the run across different countries, as reflected in his international passport, since he was declared wanted in connection with a string of violent crimes in Lagos State.
“This case involves multiple murders, attempted murders, and destruction of lives and property spanning several years. The suspect, Ahmed Akanbi, was earlier declared wanted alongside other accomplices. I can confirm to you that he has now been arrested by INTERPOL operatives in Benin Republic and handed over to INTERPOL Nigeria, and today handed to us at Zone 2 command. Investigations will be concluded before he is charged to court,” Jimoh said.
Jimoh explained that the case gained renewed attention following a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, which prompted a fresh and discreet investigation into the killings in the Ojomu community of Lagos. Preliminary findings revealed that some of the arrested accomplices had confessed to carrying out the killings on the instructions of the suspect, who allegedly financed the operations.
Providing details of the incidents, the AIG said Sheriff Ishola was murdered on April 18, 2023, while Prince Ademola Akinloye was killed on August 26, 2024, both in the Eti-Osa axis of Lagos, in coordinated and premeditated attacks.
Jimoh cautioned against misinformation and attempts to politicise the case, insisting that the police would ensure justice is served. “The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to ensuring that no individual, regardless of status, escapes justice. We will follow due process and ensure that all those involved are prosecuted,” he said.
Commissioner of Police, INTERPOL, Fidelis Ogarabe, said the suspect’s arrest was made possible through international collaboration, with INTERPOL operatives receiving intelligence about the suspect’s location in Cotonou and deploying a team to effect his arrest. Items recovered from the suspect, including travel documents, mobile phones, and a luxury vehicle, will aid ongoing investigations.
