Police kill four kidnappers, rescue five victims in Lagos-Ogun joint operation

Police kill four kidnappers, rescue five victims in Lagos-Ogun joint operation

The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping after operatives of the Lagos State Police Command and Ogun State Police Command rescued five abducted victims and neutralised four suspected kidnappers during a coordinated operation in Ogun State.

The operation, conducted under the newly launched Operation KOSAYE, also led to the arrest of four other suspected members of the kidnapping gang, as police intensified efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating along the Lagos-Ogun border corridor.

The Commissioners of Police in Ogun and Lagos states, Bode Ojajuni and Fatai Tijani, announced the development while briefing journalists on Saturday at the Police Training School in Iperu, Ogun State.

According to Ojajuni, the victims were abducted by armed criminals around the Ogbere Forest along the J4 corridor of the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, one of Nigeria’s busiest highways linking the South-West to other parts of the country.

He said intelligence gathered by security operatives enabled officers to track the kidnappers to their hideout inside the forest, where a fierce gun battle ensued.

The police commissioner disclosed that four suspected kidnappers were killed during the exchange of gunfire, while four others were arrested. The five kidnapped victims were rescued unharmed.

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“The victims were rescued successfully, and four of the kidnappers were neutralised while four others were taken into custody,” he said.

Ojajuni explained that the successful rescue followed the directive of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, to strengthen collaboration among police commands in tackling kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes across state boundaries.

He said the Nigeria Police Force recently launched Operation KOSAYE, a joint security initiative covering Lagos and Ogun states with the support of both state governments.

According to him, the operation—whose name means “No Space”—is designed to deny criminals safe havens by targeting forests, border communities and other isolated locations used as hideouts by kidnappers, armed robbers and bandits.

Ojajuni revealed that security personnel had already carried out extensive clearance operations across Ogere, Ijebu-Ode, Ajebandele and the J4 corridor, among other vulnerable communities identified through intelligence.

Beyond the rescue mission, the commissioner disclosed that the operation resulted in the arrest of 84 additional criminal suspects across Lagos and Ogun states.

He added that operatives recovered AK-47 rifles, assault weapons, locally fabricated pistols, battle axes, live ammunition, mobile phones and other items linked to criminal activities.

Ojajuni reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to sustaining the operation until kidnapping and violent crimes are significantly reduced across both states.

He added that the initiative could eventually be expanded to other parts of the country if it continues to produce positive security outcomes.

Speaking at the briefing, Lagos State Commissioner of Police Fatai Tijani dismissed reports suggesting that bandits had infiltrated and taken control of parts of Lagos and Ogun states.

He said ongoing security operations had proved such claims to be false, stressing that security agencies remained firmly in control of the affected communities.

According to Tijani, Operation KOSAYE involves coordinated security sweeps across forests, border communities and identified criminal hideouts stretching from Lagos into Ogun State.

“Our personnel thoroughly combed forests and other identified locations. This operation is not a one-off exercise. It will continue for as long as necessary to keep our communities safe,” he said.

The Lagos police commissioner further disclosed that the IGP had directed commissioners of police in neighbouring states to work closely together in securing interstate border corridors and dismantling criminal gangs operating across state boundaries.

He commended the governors of Lagos and Ogun states for providing the logistics and operational support that contributed to the success of the exercise.

“The results speak for themselves. You have seen the rescued victims, the suspects arrested and the recoveries made. This demonstrates our commitment to protecting lives and property,” Tijani added.

One of the rescued victims, Jimoh Badamosi, narrated how he and four others were kidnapped while travelling to Ibadan.

The 58-year-old said heavily armed men suddenly emerged around Ogbere Forest, opened fire on moving vehicles and forced passengers out at gunpoint before marching five victims from three different vehicles into the forest.

According to him, the kidnappers demanded ₦40 million from his family for his release, while another victim was asked to produce ₦30 million.

Badamosi said they had spent less than 24 hours in captivity when they suddenly heard heavy gunfire.

“We later heard the kidnappers shouting that the Nigeria Police had arrived. They ordered us to lie down, but when we heard police officers calling us, we crawled towards them and were rescued,” he recounted.

He commended the police for the swift rescue operation and urged the Federal Government to provide security agencies with more sophisticated weapons, establish additional security checkpoints and strengthen surveillance around forests frequently used as criminal hideouts.

Other rescued victims also expressed gratitude to the police, describing the operation as timely and life-saving.

Police authorities urged residents of both states to continue providing timely and credible intelligence, stressing that community support remains crucial in the ongoing fight against kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes.

 

Police kill four kidnappers, rescue five victims in Lagos-Ogun joint operation