Ogun Police Neutralise Five Kidnappers, Rescue Three Victims

 

The Ogun State Police Command has neutralised no fewer than five suspected kidnappers along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in a coordinated operation aimed at curbing rising criminal activities on the major highway.

This was confirmed in a statement issued in Abeokuta by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, who detailed the swift response of security operatives to a distress call from commuters.

According to Odutola, the Area Commander of Sagamu received reports of an ongoing armed robbery near Ilishan, prompting an immediate deployment of a crack team of officers to the scene.

“Upon arrival, officers discovered that a group of unidentified gunmen had set up a roadblock using an articulated truck, indiscriminately opening fire on unarmed passengers, causing widespread panic,” she stated.

The assailants, she added, abducted three individuals—Bolaji Bilesanmi (65), Olasunkanmi Idowu (50), and Mohammed Salisu—dragging them into the forest from two vehicles: a Honda Pilot (Lagos EKY113GZ) and a Honda Accord (Lagos KJA13QFA).

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, ordered a covert operation spearheaded by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.

“On January 29, 2025, at about 04:00 hours, operatives located the kidnappers’ hideout. Upon sighting the police squad, the gang engaged the officers in a fierce gun battle. In the exchange, five kidnappers were fatally injured, while others escaped with gunshot wounds,” Odutola disclosed.

Recovered from the suspected kidnappers were an AK-47 rifle, 10 rounds of 5.6mm calibre ammunition, ₦5.2 million suspected to be proceeds of crime, and three mobile phones.

She further confirmed that the three kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing members of the syndicate.

The Commissioner of Police reiterated the Command’s commitment to tackling crime and issued a stern warning to individuals involved in criminal activities, particularly those targeting innocent commuters.

He assured residents that the police will continue to intensify efforts to ensure the safety of travelers and the general public in Ogun State.