Lunatic nabbed with 27 SIM cards in Lagos
A man identified as Godwin has been arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) after he was allegedly found with 27 SIM cards while pretending to be mentally unstable.
In a statement on Tuesday, the agency said the suspect, who claimed to hail from Ughelli Local Government Area of Delta State, had been under surveillance for over a month following complaints from residents in the Epe area of Lagos about his suspicious behaviour.
According to the LNSC, Godwin had been living in an abandoned security post near the T-junction in Epe. Residents reported that he was often seen changing clothes discreetly each morning and holding frequent phone conversations late at night.
Acting on a tip-off, LNSC officers from the Epe command conducted a routine patrol on Monday. Finding Godwin temporarily away from the spot, they searched the abandoned post and discovered 27 registered SIM cards hidden inside a block wall.
“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 agency’s statement read in part.
A local food vendor also supported the concerns, saying that despite Godwin’s erratic lifestyle, he often appeared mentally alert and coherent.
When contacted, LNSC spokesperson Oloruntoba Runsewe confirmed the suspect had been handed over to the police for further investigation.
“He is no longer in our custody. He has been handed over to the police for further investigation,” she said.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, also confirmed the arrest.
“Our preliminary investigation so far shows that he is a bit mentally unstable and he is homeless, and there is no evidence to point to the fact that he is a kidnapper. The claim is for now baseless,” he stated.
