The Nigeria Police Force has recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping with the successful rescue of five abducted victims and the killing of four suspected kidnappers during the launch of Operation Kósàyè, a new joint security operation between the Lagos and Ogun State Police Commands.
The operation, officially unveiled on Saturday, targets kidnapping syndicates, armed robbers and other violent criminal groups operating in forests and border communities linking both states. According to the police, the initiative was introduced by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to reclaim criminal hideouts and restore security along major highways and border routes.
Police said the first success of the operation came less than 24 hours after five travellers were abducted along the Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway. Security operatives stormed the kidnappers’ hideout deep inside the forest, rescued all the victims alive, neutralised four members of the gang and left another suspect with gunshot wounds as he escaped.
Addressing journalists, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, represented during the briefing, said the operation covers major flashpoints stretching from Kara and the Long Bridge through Sagamu, Ogere and Ijebu-Ode to parts of Ikorodu and Epe, adding that criminal camps hidden inside forests had already been dismantled.
“Operation Kósàyè is designed to reclaim our forests, dismantle criminal camps and restore security across Lagos and Ogun border communities,” the police said.
Beyond the rescue operation, police disclosed that four additional suspected kidnappers and 84 other criminal suspects were arrested in separate operations carried out across the Lagos-Ogun corridor. Security operatives also recovered AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, locally made pistols, ammunition, mobile phones and other communication gadgets believed to have been used by the suspects.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, described the operation as a continuous exercise rather than a one-time raid, stressing that officers would continue clearing forests used by criminals. He added that drones, intelligence gathering and other modern policing tools were being deployed to strengthen security and prevent future attacks.|
One of the rescued victims, Pharmacist Amarachi Nsofor, recounted the terrifying experience, revealing that she was travelling home after attending her father’s burial when gunmen attacked their vehicle near Ogbere. She said the kidnappers demanded ₦70 million, which was later reduced to ₦20 million, while she and other victims were forced to sleep in the forest without food or water.
“We heard heavy gunshots and thought the kidnappers had returned. It was only later we realised it was the police coming to rescue us,” she recalled.
Another victim, Temi Faith, said she had lost hope of surviving after being marched into the forest alongside other captives. According to her, the kidnappers collected their phones, money and other valuables before police officers stormed the area and rescued them.
An emotional moment followed when Blessing Nsofor, who escaped after suffering a gunshot wound during the attack, arrived at the police command to thank the officers. Fighting back tears, she praised the police for saving her family and admitted that the operation had completely changed her perception of the force.
“As from today, I will never speak ill of the police again. They saved my life and my family,” she said.
The rescued victims also appealed to the Federal Government to restore police checkpoints along the Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway and clear thick vegetation around the highway, arguing that both measures would discourage kidnappers and improve security for motorists.
The Nigeria Police said Operation Kósàyè, which means “there is no hiding place” in Yoruba, will continue across Lagos and Ogun until criminal gangs are completely driven out of forests and border communities.
