Police Neutralise Kidnap Kingpin, Recover AK-47, ₦2m in Ogun Forest Raid

Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Ogun State Police Command have neutralised a suspected kidnapping kingpin during an intelligence-led operation at a criminal hideout in the Orile-Ilugun Forest axis along the Abeokuta–Ibadan Expressway.

The operation, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, also led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle loaded with 20 rounds of 5.6mm ammunition, ₦2 million suspected to be ransom proceeds, and two mobile phones.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists.

According to him, the raid followed the successful rescue of a kidnapping victim who was abducted on May 14, 2026, at Nufats Fuel Station along the Abeokuta–Ibadan Expressway in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Babaseyi explained that the victim regained freedom unharmed on May 18 at about 8:30 p.m., after which operatives intensified efforts to track down members of the gang responsible for the abduction.

“Following credible intelligence, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad stormed the kidnappers’ hideout within the Orile-Ilugun Forest axis at about 6:00 a.m. on May 19, 2026,” the statement read.

“The suspects opened fire on sighting the operatives, leading to a fierce gun duel. The police responded with superior tactical firepower, neutralising the gang leader, while other members of the syndicate escaped into the forest with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.”

The police spokesperson added that the corpse of the suspected kingpin had been deposited at a morgue for autopsy, while efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the operatives for their bravery, professionalism and resilience during the operation.

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He reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes across the state.

The command also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through its emergency lines.

The latest operation comes less than a week after the command neutralised two suspected kidnappers and arrested an alleged gang leader, Seriki Mohammed Abdullahi, alongside another suspect, Mohammed Bello, during a separate intelligence-led raid.

That earlier operation followed investigations into the abduction of three persons at the Ipojo Area, Iperin, via Ijebu Ode, on May 11, 2026.

During the operation, police recovered an AK-47 rifle loaded with 10 rounds of 5.6mm ammunition, a single-barrel gun, ₦1.5 million suspected to be ransom proceeds, several mobile phones and a black bag.