The Nigeria Police have officially commenced Operation Kósàyè, a collaborative security initiative between the Lagos and Ogun State Commands. This mission is designed to eradicate kidnapping rings and violent criminal gangs stationed within border forests and communities linking the two states.
The operation achieved a swift victory by rescuing five individuals kidnapped along the Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway. During this rescue, officers neutralized four kidnappers, while one suspect fled with injuries. In broader sweeps across the Lagos-Ogun corridor, authorities apprehended 88 suspects and seized an arsenal of weapons, including AK-47s, pump-action guns, and ammunition.
Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, explained that the term Kósàyè translates to “there is no hiding place.” He emphasized that the initiative, directed by IGP Olatunji Disu, aims to clear criminal hideouts and shanties in areas like the Long Bridge, Sagamu, and Ikorodu. He confirmed that all recent kidnap victims in the region have been successfully recovered.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, noted that the use of drones and advanced intelligence gathering is proving effective in dismantling camps that were previously used to launch attacks on commuters. Both officials credited the support of Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dapo Abiodun for the success of these logistical efforts.
Rescued victims, including Pharmacist Usofor Amarachi, shared harrowing accounts of being held in the forest after being abducted at gunpoint. They praised the police for their timely intervention, which saved them from their captors. Another victim, Blessing Nsofor, who survived a gunshot wound while fleeing, expressed deep gratitude to the officers after initially doubting their capabilities.
The survivors have urged the federal government to maintain a permanent security presence along the Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway and to clear the dense vegetation along the highway to improve visibility and safety.