Police Kill Five Kidnappers, Rescue Three Victims On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Recover N5.2M Ransom

Abeokuta, Ogun State – Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Ogun State Police Command have neutralised five suspected kidnappers in a fierce gun battle along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The police also recovered an AK-47 rifle, ten rounds of 5.6mm ammunition, and N5.2 million, suspected to be ransom money.

According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, on Wednesday, the operation also led to the rescue of three kidnapped victims.

It was gathered that the kidnappers had blocked a section of the Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Expressway on Saturday, January 25, using an articulated truck to halt vehicles before opening fire and abducting victims into the forest.

Acting on intelligence, police operatives traced the gang’s hideout in the early hours of Wednesday.

She said upon arrival, the kidnappers engaged the officers in a gun duel, but the superior firepower of the police led to the death of five suspects.

The statement read, “On January 25, 2025, at about 1900hrs, the Area Commander, Sagamu received a distress call from commuters travelling along Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Expressway of an ongoing armed robbery near Ilishan, Ogun State. Acting swiftly, the Area Commander mobilized a crack team of officers to the scene.

“Upon arrival, officers discovered that a group of unidentified gunmen had set up a roadblock using an articulated truck, indiscriminately opening fire on unarmed passengers, causing widespread panic.

“In the ensuing chaos, three commuters – Bolaji Bilesanmi ‘m’, 65yrs Olasunkanmi Idowu ‘m’ 50yrs, and Mohammed Salisu ‘m’ (age unknown) were abducted into the forest from two vehicles (1) Honda Pilot (Registration No. Lagos EKY113GZ) and (2) Honda Accord Car (Registration No. Lagos KJA13QFA).

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP. Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD. directed a covert operation led by the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit.

Odutola said, “On January 29, 2025, at about 0400hrs, operatives located the kidnappers’ hideout, and upon sighting the police squad, the gang engaged the officers in a fierce gun battle. In the exchange, five (5) kidnappers were fatally injured while others escaped with gunshot wounds.”

“The following items were recovered from the scene: one AK-47 rifle, ten rounds of 5.6mm calibre ammunition, N5.2 million (suspected to be proceeds of crime), three mobile phones.

She said, “The three (3) kidnapped victims regained their freedom unhurt. Efforts are ongoing to arrest injured members of the syndicate.

“The Commissioner of Police strongly warns against criminal activities, particularly among young individuals seeking financial gain through high-profile crimes.

“He reiterates the Command’s unwavering commitment to an aggressive crackdown on criminals preying on innocent citizens in Ogun State, she said.”