A man who can be identified as Godwin has been arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) in Epe for allegedly disguising as mentally unstable while in possession of 27 SIM cards.
According to a statement issued by the agency and obtained, the suspect had reportedly been under surveillance for over a month following complaints from residents about his suspicious behavior in the area.
Godwin, said to be from Ughelli Local Government Area of Delta State, was reportedly living in an abandoned security post near a T-junction in Epe.
Residents claimed he frequently changed clothes in secret each morning and was often heard making phone calls late at night.
Acting on a tip-off during a routine patrol on May 5, LNSC operatives found the man absent from his usual spot and decided to search the abandoned structure.
During the search, officers discovered 27 registered SIM cards hidden inside a section of a block wall. Godwin was later apprehended upon his return to the location.
During questioning, he confirmed his identity and hometown but refused to disclose the whereabouts of any mobile phones that could be connected to the SIM cards.
“On May 5, during a routine patrol, officers were informed by residents that the suspect was temporarily absent from the area. Acting swiftly, the patrol team searched the structure and discovered 27 registered SIM cards concealed within a section of a block wall.
“Officers were immediately dispatched, and Mr Godwin was arrested shortly after his return to the location. During interrogation, he confirmed his identity and background but declined to reveal the location of any mobile phones linked to the SIM cards,” the statement read in part.
A local food vendor also confirmed suspicions about Godwin’s activities, noting that he often appeared mentally stable despite his odd and erratic behavior.
The LNSC spokesperson, Oloruntoba Runsewe, confirmed that the suspect had been transferred to the police for further investigation.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, also confirmed the arrest, stating that while Godwin may be mentally unstable and homeless, there is currently no evidence linking him to kidnapping or other criminal activities.
“Our preliminary investigation so far shows that he is a bit mentally unstable and homeless, and there is no evidence to point to the fact that he is a kidnapper. The claim is for now baseless,” Hundeyin said.
