Man Feigning Madness Nabbed in Lagos With 27 SIM Cards Hidden in Wall

Operatives of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) have arrested a man, identified as Godwin, who was allegedly pretending to be mentally unstable while in possession of 27 registered SIM cards in the Epe area of Lagos.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, Godwin, who claimed to be from Ughelli Local Government Area of Delta State, had been under discreet surveillance for over a month after residents raised concerns about his suspicious behavior.

The LNSC revealed that Godwin had been residing in an abandoned security post near the T-junction in Epe. While he presented himself publicly as mentally ill, locals noted that he would often change into clean clothes each morning and engage in frequent phone conversations during the night—behavior that appeared inconsistent with his supposed mental condition.

Acting on a tip-off, LNSC officers from the Epe command conducted a patrol on Monday, May 5. During the routine check, residents informed the officers that the suspect had temporarily left his usual location. Seizing the opportunity, the patrol team searched the abandoned security post where he was known to stay.

In the course of the search, officers discovered 27 registered SIM cards carefully hidden within a section of a block wall. Shortly afterward, Godwin returned to the area and was arrested by the patrol team.

“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,” the LNSC said in its statement.

During preliminary questioning, Godwin confirmed his identity and admitted to being from Delta State but declined to reveal the whereabouts of any mobile phones possibly linked to the recovered SIM cards.

A local food vendor in the area also corroborated the residents’ suspicions, stating that although Godwin behaved erratically at times, he often spoke and acted in ways that suggested he was mentally alert and aware of his surroundings.

LNSC spokesperson, Oloruntoba Runsewe, confirmed that the suspect had been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation. “He is no longer in our custody. He has been handed over to the police for further investigation,” she stated.

Also confirming the development, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said that preliminary investigations suggested the suspect may be mentally unstable and homeless. However, he added that no credible evidence had emerged linking him to any criminal network, including kidnapping.

“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,” CSP Hundeyin said.

The police have assured the public that a thorough investigation is ongoing to uncover the full details surrounding the incident.