The Lagos State Police Command at the weekend, arrested 74 suspects in connection with the murder of a Lagos white cap chief, Chief Kayode Adeshina Onimole, last Thursday in his palace at Iga Iduguran area of Isale Eko.
The police said they had commenced a full-scale investigation into the murder.
This is just as the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, flayed the murder of Onimole, noting that it was an unfortunate incident. He called on security agents to re-tool their security mechanism with a view to curbing future occurrences.
The monarch made the call during a courtesy call on him by the Acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Musa Rilwan, last Friday.
Confirming the arrests, the state Deputy Public Relations Officer, ASP Chukwuma Ozoani, said the police first arrested and detained 73 suspects at the State Criminal and Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba.
He added that the 74th suspect was arrested during the funeral service of the deceased held on Saturday at Ebute Ero Anglican Church. The traditional rites followed afterwards at his palace on the Lagos Island.
He said: "The police have commenced investigation into the gruesome murder of the deceased and we made about 74 arrests and interrogation has begun already.
"We arrested this large number because we are looking at all angles for the possible cause of his murder. We don't want to leave any stone unturned so we are looking at the case from a broader perspective.
"In order not to jeopardise investigations, we would not like to disclose all we know but be rest assured that during interrogation, we will fish out the culprits and let those that are innocent to go free."
He however could not say if the deceased's murder was sponsored by any high-placed individual. "We will start from the known to the unknown and find out if the deed was sponsored and by whom," he said.
Meanwhile, as part of efforts to checkmate future reoccurrence, Akiolu has prohibited parking of vehicles around Iga Iduguran area of Isale Eko as well as the entire Adeniji Adele.
He called on members of the public to assist the police in the ongoing investigation into the murder of the white cap chief, adding that the right information could lead to the apprehension of all the assailants.
He said such a tragedy has never occurred since his ascension to the throne about 10 years ago, adding that it was a wake-up call for all to be more security conscious.
