Four armed kidnappers have been killed by police operatives during a joint operation between the Lagos and Ogun Police Commands codenamed ‘Operation Kosaye’.
Four suspected kidnappers were arrested as operatives stormed Area J4 Forest, Ogbere, Ogun State on Friday night in an operation initiated by the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, and supported by the governors of Lagos and Ogun.
Five travellers kidnapped at the Ogbere axis of Lagos-Sagamu-Benin Expressway on Thursday evening were successfully rescued by a rescue operation involving over 300 police men.
Other items recovered during the operation included sophisticated firearms such as AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, locally-made pistols, ammunition, mobile phones, communication equipment and others.
At the official launch of ‘Operation Kosaye’ at the Nigeria Police Training School, Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, on Saturday, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun, Bode Ojajuni, told journalists that the joint operation was a security initiative between the Lagos and Ogun State Police Commands.
The operation, codenamed, which literally means “there is no hiding place for criminals” in Yoruba language, was launched by the Inspector-General of Police, with the full support of the governments of Lagos and Ogun states, which have provided the necessary logistics to ensure its success, he said.
The Ogun CP, flanked by his Lagos State counterpart, Tijani Fatai, said the main objective of the joint operation was to stamp out kidnapping and other violent crimes in the two states.
“It is also aimed at clearing forests, hideouts and other criminal enclaves across the large border communities between Lagos and Ogun states.
“We are here to reassure members of the public that the police are committed to restoring confidence and the safety of lives and property.
“From the operations so far, many criminal hideouts have been busted. I can tell you that as I speak there are no known victims being held by kidnappers in the operational areas of this exercise.
“Our operatives have swept and cleared several forest corridors and border communities in both states. These include the Kara Bridge axis, Long Bridge corridor, areas around Sagamu, Ogere and other adjoining communities, extending to Ikorodu and bordering settlements. We are also destroying criminal hideouts, clearing illegal shanties used as cover and arresting several suspects.
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.
“Four suspected kidnappers were neutralised and four others arrested in the course of the rescue operation. Also, 84 more suspects were arrested in the ongoing operation in Lagos and Ogun states.
“We are therefore appealing to members of the public not to panic whenever they see heavy deployment or movement of police personnel. The operation is continuing and our officers will continue the offensive against criminal elements.
We also call on the public to report any persons seen with suspicious gunshot wounds or any information that might help ongoing investigations.
“The Nigeria Police Force is fully committed to the protection of residents of Lagos and Ogun states and the eradication of all criminal elements in our communities,” Ojajuni said.
CP Tijani Fatai of the Lagos State Police Command, stated in his remark that he was happy that the joint operation has started to yield significant results.
He said the operation had begun because criminal elements had established camps in thick forests and border communities connecting Lagos and Ogun states, some of which, he said, were hideouts for kidnappers and other violent criminals.
“The purpose of this joint operation was to deny the criminals the opportunity to use these forests as safe havens. Our personnel have systematically searched these areas, dismantled criminal camps and restored security in the corridors in question.
“This exercise is not a one-time operation. It is ongoing and will continue as long as necessary to assure that people in both states can go about their lawful business without fear.
“We want to assure the people of Lagos and Ogun that the Nigeria Police Force is fully committed to securing every part of these states. “The Inspector-General of Police has provided the necessary leadership and operational support for the success of this initiative.
“I also want to sincerely appreciate the Governors of Lagos and Ogun States for their unalloyed support, particularly in providing the logistics to make this operation effective.
The results are self-explanatory. You have witnessed the victims rescued, the suspects arrested, the firearms recovered, and other evidence presented here today. These achievements show that this is a serious and coordinated effort to address insecurity.
“This collaborative approach among neighbouring state police commands shall continue and I believe, shall be replicated across other parts of the country where similar security challenges exist”, CP Tijani submitted.
