IPERU REMO – In a massive, coordinated crackdown on violent crime across the Southwest, the Nigeria Police Force has officially launched a major joint security initiative codenamed “Operation Kosaye” (meaning “No Chance” or “No Hiding Place” for criminals).
The sweeping anti-crime offensive, ordered by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has already yielded immediate and significant breakthrough results. Operatives have neutralized four notorious kidnappers, arrested 88 criminal suspects, and successfully rescued five abducted victims from dense forest hideouts.
The official launch was announced during a joint press briefing at the Ogun State Police Training School in Iperu-Remo by the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, alongside his Lagos State counterpart, CP Tijani Fatai.
Dramatic Rescue and Heavy Firefight
The operations turned deadly along the Ogbere J3 forest corridor on the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, where a heavily armed kidnapping syndicate had ambushed two vehicles on Thursday, June 25. The victims—four women and one man—were traveling toward Lagos and Ibadan when bandits opened fire, injuring one woman in the arm before dragging them deep into the thickets.
Acting on swift intelligence, combined police teams stormed the forest, engaging the bandits in a fierce gun battle.
“Our operatives confronted the syndicate deep in the bush. Four of the kidnappers were neutralized during the gun duel, while four others were captured alive,” CP Ojajuni disclosed. All five victims were rescued unhurt and are receiving medical attention.
Massive Sweeps and Forest Clearances
Beyond the immediate rescue, “Operation Kosaye” has expanded into a massive bush-combing exercise across the border communities of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo states. The coordinated raids led to the arrest of 84 additional suspects (75 males and 9 females) holed up in illegal shanties and criminal black spots.
A formidable cache of arms was recovered from the various hideouts, including:
- AK-47 rifles
- Pump-action shotguns
- English and locally-made pistols
- Ammunition, battle-axes, and cutlasses
A United Front Against Banditry
The high-intensity operation is heavily subsidized and logistically supported by both the Lagos and Ogun State governments. The two Commissioners of Police reassured the public that key economic arterial roads—including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, and the Lagos-Ikorodu corridor—have been thoroughly fortified.
CP Tijani Fatai dismissed lingering rumors of bandit camps successfully infiltrating Lagos, stating that all known illegal shanties used as transit camps by criminals have been completely dismantled. He confirmed that no resident is currently being held captive within the operational zones.
The police high command has urged citizens to remain vigilant and report individuals seeking treatment for suspicious gunshot wounds to the nearest station as the offensive continues.
The strategic shift to aggressive bush-combing reflects a broader directive from the Inspector-General of Police to overhaul regional anti-kidnapping strategies. For an in-depth perspective on these tactical adjustments, you can watch this report on how Olatunji Disu Directs Stronger Coordination in Anti-Kidnapping Fight.
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