A joint security operation by the Lagos and Ogun State Police Commands has resulted in the arrest of 92 suspected criminals, the rescue of five kidnap victims, and the killing of four suspected kidnappers during coordinated raids across forests and border communities linking both states.
The operation, codenamed Operation Kósàyè, also led to the destruction of criminal hideouts in the Iperu Forest and the recovery of AK-47 rifles, pump action guns, locally made pistols, ammunition, mobile phones and other communication devices.
Speaking at the official launch of the operation at the Police Training College, Iperu Remo, Ogun State, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, said the initiative was introduced by the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to tackle kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes in the Lagos and Ogun axis.
He explained that the security operation spans communities from Kara and the Long Bridge through Sagamu, Ogere and Ijebu Ode, extending to border communities in Ikorodu and Epe.
“Operation Kósàyè is designed to reclaim our forests, dismantle criminal camps and restore security across communities stretching from Kara and the Long Bridge through Sagamu, Ogere and Ijebu Ode to adjoining border communities in Ikorodu and Epe.
“Identified flashpoints have been cleared. Illegal shanties used by criminals have been dismantled, while several suspects have been arrested.
“We are here to reassure residents and dispel the fear and rumours deliberately being spread by kidnappers. As I speak to you, there is no Nigerian currently being held captive by kidnappers in either Lagos or Ogun State.
“You will recall the recent kidnapping incident along the Ijebu Ode corridor. Acting on the directive of the Inspector General of Police, operatives of Operation Kósàyè moved into the forest and successfully rescued all five victims. They are here with us today.
“During that operation, four kidnappers were neutralised and another four arrested. In addition, 84 other criminal suspects were apprehended in separate operations during the forest clearance across Lagos and Ogun states.”
In a statement released on Sunday, June 28, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, said the exercise had already disrupted criminal activities around the Lagos and Ogun border, particularly in forests previously used as operational bases by kidnappers and armed robbers.
He credited the success of the operation to the leadership of the Inspector General of Police and the support of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun.
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One of the major breakthroughs recorded was the rescue of five travellers abducted along the Ijebu Ode, Benin Expressway on Friday.
According to the police, the victims regained their freedom less than 24 hours after they were kidnapped.
Four members of the gang were killed during a gun battle with security operatives, while another suspect escaped with gunshot wounds.
One of the rescued victims, Pharmacist Nsofor Amachi, recalled that she was travelling home from Oraifite, Anambra State, after attending her father’s burial when armed men attacked their vehicle near Ogbere.
She said her widowed mother sustained a gunshot wound to the hand during the attack.
Amachi explained that although her mother and elder sister escaped, she and one of her aunts were taken into the forest by the kidnappers.
“They demanded N70 million but later reduced it to N20 million. There were five of them and they were Fulanis. I was confused and hopeless. We slept in the open without food or water.
“On the day we were rescued, we heard sporadic gunshots. We thought the kidnappers had returned. We all lay on the ground.
“We later discovered the gunshots were from police officers. I am grateful to God for the prompt intervention, and I will forever remain grateful to the Nigeria Police.”
Another rescued victim, Temi Faith, said the attackers ambushed their vehicle at about 4 p.m. on Friday before forcing passengers into the forest.
A third victim, Jimoh Gbadamosi, said the kidnappers blocked several vehicles around Ogbere, opened fire indiscriminately and abducted five people from three different vehicles before fleeing into the forest.