Lagos, Ogun police commands rescue five, arrest 88 suspects in forests raid

A coordinated security initiative, dubbed "Operation Kosaye," has yielded significant results in Nigeria's Ogun and Lagos states, leading to the rescue of five kidnapped individuals and the apprehension of 88 criminal suspects. The joint operation, launched on Friday, also resulted in the neutralization of four suspected kidnappers. The operation's name, "Kosaye," is a Yoruba expression signifying that "there is no hiding place for criminals."

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Today, we are formally launching Operation Kosaye, a joint security initiative between the Lagos and Ogun State Police Commands. The name Kosaye means ‘there is no hiding place for criminals.’

The initiative, spearheaded by the Inspector-General of Police with support from the state governments, is designed to systematically clear forests, criminal hideouts, and border communities that have been exploited by kidnappers and other violent offenders. Police Commissioner Bode Ojajuni of Ogun State, alongside his Lagos State counterpart Fatai Tijani, formally launched the operation on Saturday, highlighting its objective to restore public confidence in security.

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Our operatives have combed and cleared several forest corridors and border communities stretching across both states. We have also dismantled criminal camps, cleared illegal shanties used as hideouts and arrested several suspects.

During the operation, security operatives successfully dismantled several criminal camps and cleared forest corridors across both states. Among the notable successes was the rescue of five victims along the Ijebu-Ode corridor. In addition to the arrests and rescues, authorities recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, locally made pistols, and communication equipment, further disrupting criminal networks operating in the region.

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One of the major breakthroughs recorded during the operation was the rescue of five kidnapped victims along the Ijebu-Ode corridor following the directive of the Inspector-General of Police. During the rescue operation, four suspected kidnappers were neutralised, while four others were arrested. In addition, no fewer than 84 other criminal suspects have been apprehended across Lagos and Ogun states during the ongoing operation.