Police Arrest 88 Suspects, Rescue 5 Kidnap Victims In Lagos, Ogun

No fewer than five kidnapped victims have been rescued, four suspected kidnappers killed, and 88 criminal suspects arrested following a joint security operation launched by the Nigeria Police Force across Lagos and Ogun states.

The operation, codenamed Operation Kosaye, was officially launched on Saturday at the Police Training School, Iperu-Remo, by the Commissioners of Police for Ogun and Lagos states, Bode Ojajuni and Fatai Tijani, respectively.

Speaking during the launch, Ojajuni said the security operation, initiated by the Inspector-General of Police with the support of the Lagos and Ogun State governments, had already recorded significant successes in dismantling criminal networks operating across the two neighbouring states.

According to him, one of the major breakthroughs was the rescue of five kidnap victims along the Ijebu-Ode corridor during a coordinated operation.

“One of the major breakthroughs recorded during the operation was the rescue of five kidnapped victims along the Ijebu-Ode corridor following the directive of the Inspector-General of Police.

“During the rescue operation, four suspected kidnappers were neutralised, while four others were arrested. In addition, no fewer than 84 other criminal suspects have been apprehended across Lagos and Ogun states during the ongoing operation,” Ojajuni said.

The commissioner explained that the operation derives its name from the Yoruba expression Kosaye, meaning “there is no hiding place for criminals,” reflecting its objective of flushing out kidnappers and other violent criminals from forests, border communities and criminal hideouts across both states.

“Today, we are formally launching Operation Kosaye, a joint security initiative between the Lagos and Ogun State Police Commands. The name Kosaye means ‘there is no hiding place for criminals.’

“This operation is an initiative of the Inspector-General of Police and enjoys the full support of the governments of Lagos and Ogun states, which have provided the necessary logistics to ensure its success,” he said.

Ojajuni disclosed that security operatives had combed several forests and border communities linking Lagos and Ogun, dismantling criminal camps and illegal shanties used as operational bases by kidnappers and other criminal elements.

“Our operatives have combed and cleared several forest corridors and border communities stretching across both states. We have also dismantled criminal camps, cleared illegal shanties used as hideouts and arrested several suspects,” he added.

Items recovered from the suspects included AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, locally fabricated pistols, ammunition, mobile phones and communication gadgets, all of which were displayed during the launch.

The Ogun police commissioner urged residents not to panic over the increased presence of security personnel, assuring that the offensive against criminal gangs would continue until the affected areas were completely secured.

“We therefore urge members of the public not to panic whenever they notice heavy deployment or movement of police personnel. The operation is still ongoing, and our officers will continue to sustain the offensive against criminal elements,” he said.

He also appealed to members of the public to report anyone with suspicious gunshot wounds or provide useful information that could assist ongoing investigations.

Also speaking, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, described the operation as a major success, noting that several forests previously occupied by kidnappers and other criminal groups had been reclaimed.

“As you can see from the results displayed here today, Operation Kosaye, initiated by the Inspector-General of Police and strongly supported by the governments of Lagos and Ogun states, has already begun yielding significant results,” Tijani said.

He explained that before the operation, criminal gangs had established camps in thick forests and border communities linking both states, making coordinated policing necessary.

“This joint operation was designed to deny criminals the opportunity to use these forests as safe havens. Our personnel have systematically combed these areas, dismantled criminal camps and restored security to the affected corridors,” he said.

Tijani stressed that Operation Kosaye would not be a one-off exercise but a sustained campaign to eliminate cross-border crimes and guarantee the safety of residents in both states.

“This exercise is not a one-off operation. It is continuous and will be sustained for as long as necessary to ensure that residents of both states can go about their lawful activities without fear,” he added.

He commended the Inspector-General of Police for initiating the operation and appreciated Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for providing the logistics that made the exercise possible.

According to him, the success recorded so far demonstrates the effectiveness of collaboration among neighbouring police commands in tackling kidnapping and other cross-border crimes.

The commissioners assured residents that the joint operation would continue until criminal elements were completely rooted out of the Lagos-Ogun corridor.