Sanwo-Olu and Abiodun Hail Massive Inter-State Forest Raid as Police Kill 4 Kidnappers and Nab 88 Suspects

The dense forest boundaries stretching between Lagos and Ogun states have been aggressively cleared of criminal networks following a massive joint security offensive that led to the rescue of five hostages, the death of four kidnappers, and the arrest of 88 suspects.

The breakthrough is the direct result of “Operation Kosaye”—a Yoruba phrase translating to “no space for criminals.” The high-intensity, intelligence-led operation was ordered by the Inspector-General of Police to dismantle kidnapping syndicates, armed robbery gangs, and cross-border bandits who have been using thick agricultural zones as safe havens to launch highway assaults.

The operational layout was laid bare during a joint press briefing at the Police Training School in Iperu-Remo, where Ogun State Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni and his Lagos counterpart, Tijani Fatai, paraded dozens of suspects and displayed a massive cache of recovered weapons. The seized arsenal included AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, English pistols, battle axes, sharp cutlasses, and piles of live ammunition.

The most critical moment of the sweep occurred along the J3 and J4 forest corridor near the Benin–Sagamu Expressway. A heavily armed gang had abducted five travelers along the highway, holding them hostage inside a deep jungle camp. Acting on rapid intelligence, tactical teams tracked the electronic footprints of the criminals, closing in on the hideout. A fierce gun battle broke out as the gang tried to hold their ground, resulting in four kidnappers being fatally shot, while another four were captured alive and all five victims were rescued unhurt.

Reacting to the successful security sweep, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu expressed profound gratitude to the police high command, framing the joint border operation as a blueprint for modern state security.

“We will continue to work hand-in-hand with the police and our neighbors in Ogun State to ensure our borders remain completely hostile to criminals,” Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso. “This coordinated onslaught is exactly how inter-state security should be handled. It sends a clear message that there is absolutely no hiding place for violent gangs anywhere in the South-West.”

Echoing the praise, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun described the initiative as a bold, proactive step that has effectively restored public confidence for travelers using the busy expressway corridors. Abiodun noted that the heavy presence of police teams combing through shanties and thick bushes from Ikeja down to Kara Bridge, Iseri, Ogere, and deep into the fringes of Ondo State has completely disproved viral rumors that foreign bandits had taken total control of regional forests.

With 84 additional suspects currently undergoing profiling for their ties to various border crimes, both police commands have assured residents that the bush-combing exercises will remain a permanent fixture. Authorities are urging local communities and medical professionals to remain vigilant and immediately report any individuals seeking treatment for suspicious gunshot wounds, as security forces tighten the noose around the region’s remaining criminal elements.