By Ayodele Oni
The Inspector General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu has directed Commissioners of Police in States to collaborate in joint patrols as part of measures to reduce interstate criminal activities.
This was disclosed on Saturday by Commissioners of Police for Ogun and Lagos states, Bode Ojajuni and Fatai Tijani, while briefing journalists on Saturday at the Police Training School in Iperu, Ogun State.
The briefing followed a major joint security operation by the two states Police Commands, which led to the rescue of five kidnapped victims, the killing of four suspected kidnappers and the arrest of four others after a fierce gun battle in a forest along the Sagamu-Benin Expressway.
They revealed that the operation also resulted in the arrest of 84 additional suspects linked to various criminal activities across both states.
According to Ojajuni, the victims were rescued unharmed from a forest near Ogbere along the J4 corridor, following a coordinated operation carried out under the newly launched “Operation Kosaye,” an initiative designed to tackle kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes in Lagos and Ogun.
He said the operation was launched on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, with support from the governors of both states.
Ojajuni explained that security teams raided forests and other suspected criminal hideouts across communities including Ogere, Ijebu-Ode, Ajebandele and the J4 corridor.
“Officers also recovered AK-47 rifles, other assault weapons, locally made pistols, ammunition, battle axes, mobile phones and other items believed to be connected to criminal activities.”
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, dismissed reports claiming that bandits had taken over parts of Lagos and Ogun, saying the success of the joint operation showed that security agencies remained in control.
He said the exercise would continue for as long as necessary adding that the Inspector-General had directed police commissioners in neighbouring states to strengthen cooperation in securing border communities and dismantling criminal networks operating across state lines.
One of the rescued victims, 58-year-old Jimoh Badamosi, told journalists that he was travelling to Ibadan when armed men attacked motorists near Ogbere Forest, robbed them and forced five victims from three vehicles into the bush.
He said the kidnappers demanded ₦40 million from his family and ₦30 million from another victim’s relatives.
According to him, they had spent less than 24 hours in captivity when they heard heavy gunfire, forcing the kidnappers to flee before police officers rescued them.
The police described the operation as part of a sustained effort to improve security in Lagos and Ogun and assured residents that similar operations would continue.
Authorities also urged members of the public to remain calm, provide credible information to security agencies and support ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes across the region.
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