Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Ogun State Police Command have killed five suspected kidnappers in a fierce shootout along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
It was gathered that three victims were rescued, while law enforcement recovered an AK-47 rifle, 10 rounds of 5.6mm calibre ammunition, and N5.2 million suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Spokesperson for the command, CSP Omolola Odutola, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that the kidnappers had set up a roadblock using an articulated truck along the Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Expressway on Saturday, January 25.
She said the suspects reportedly opened fire on passengers and abducted multiple victims, taking them into a nearby forest.
Odutola noted that acting on intelligence, police operatives traced the gang’s hideout in the early hours of Wednesday. Upon sighting the officers, the kidnappers engaged them in a gun battle, which led to the deaths of five suspects.
He stated that the swift response of our anti-kidnapping squad neutralised the threats, rescued the victims unharmed, and led to the recovery of significant evidence.
The statement read, “On January 25, 2025, at about 1900hrs, the Area Commander, Sagamu received a distress call from commuters travelling along Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Expressway of an ongoing armed robbery near Ilishan, Ogun State. Acting swiftly, the Area Commander mobilized 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.
“In the ensuing chaos, three commuters – Bolaji Bilesanmi ‘m’, 65yrs Olasunkanmi Idowu ‘m’ 50yrs, and Mohammed Salisu ‘m’ (age unknown) were abducted into the forest from two vehicles (1) Honda Pilot (Registration No. Lagos EKY113GZ) and (2) Honda Accord Car (Registration No. Lagos KJA13QFA).”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, directed a covert operation led by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
“On January 29, 2025, at about 0400hrs, operatives located the kidnappers’ hideout, and upon sighting the police squad, the gang engaged the officers in a fierce gun battle. In the exchange, five (5) kidnappers were fatally injured while others escaped with gunshot wounds,” she said.
“The following items were recovered from the scene: one AK-47 rifle, ten rounds of 5.6mm calibre ammunition, N5.2 million (suspected to be proceeds of crime), three mobile phones.”
According to her, “three (3) kidnapped victims regained their freedom unhurt. Efforts are ongoing to arrest injured members of the syndicate”.
