From Our Correspondent – Abeokuta
Operatives of the Ogun and Lagos police commands stormed Lagos-Shaganu-Ore bushes and rescued kidnapped victims, arrested 88 suspects, and gunned down four kidnappers, while five kidnapped victims were rescued.
The states police commands formed a joint operation squad code named, ‘Operation Kosaye’ which literally means “no space” for criminals.
The joint operation embarked on bush combing exercise carried out across Ogun, Lagos up to the boundary with Oyo State led to the arrest of 84 suspects, including 75 males and nine females.
Addressing newsmen yesterday Saturday at Ogun Police Training College, Iperu, the State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni stated that, the operation is an initiative of the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, aimed at wiping out criminal elements from the two states.
According to CP
Ojajuni “during the operation, five victims who were kidnapped along Ore–Ogbere Road on Thursday were rescued.
He disclosed that, during the rescue operation, four kidnappers were gunned down and another four were arrested.
Ojajuni added that, “We formally launch ‘Operation Kosaye’ in Lagos and Ogun states. Operation “Kosaye” means there is no space for criminality and criminals. It is an idea and initiative of the Inspector General of Police and highly supported and sponsored by the governors of Lagos and Ogun states.
“The aim of this operation is to wipe out banditry if at all it exists in the two states and also to clear the bushes in the states. It is also to wipe out other criminal elements. We are here to allay the fears of the citizens and rumors of banditry. We are free of bandits or kidnappers. No single Nigerian is in their hands.
“We have cleared the bushes right from Ikeja down to Kara Bridge, to Redeem Camp, Iseri corridor. We have moved to Owode Egba axis down to Ogere, we have extended to Ijebu Igbo, Ijebu Ode, J4 at the fringe of Ondo State boundary.
“We equally cleared Epe, Ikorodu, Ogijo and others. We cleared shanties, criminals hideouts and we made arrests. While the operation was going on, there was a security breach along J3, J4 corridor at the fringe of Benin-Sagamu Expressway.
“It may gladden your mind to know that on the marching order of the Inspector General of Police, Operation Kosaye moved in and rescued five victims and in the course of the operation we neutralized four kidnappers, arrested another four aside the 84 other suspects that were arrested across Lagos and Ogun stretches.”
Items recovered during the operation include arms and ammunition, battle axes, cutlasses, Ak47, pump action, assault rifles, english pistols, locally-made pistols, phones among others.
The Ogun CP called for calm, urging residents and travelkers not to panic, adding that once they see anyone with gunshot wounds they should inform the police immediately.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, allayed fears of banditry in the states, noting that all bushes have been combed and searched thoroughly.
Fatai reiterated the Force’s commitment to the safety and security of citizens, noting that the exercise will continue and be replicated across other states.
“To further clear the doubt of people who have been carrying rumour that bandits have taken over Ogun State and have infiltrated into Lagos State, this is to further clear their doubts that all the bushes have been combed both within Lagos and Ogun.
“Most of the bushes we know, they are thick bushes and they have been searched thoroughly. Apart from that, it’s a continuous exercise, it will continue as long as it can stay. We want to assure the people of Lagos and Ogun that the IGP is not resting on his oars.
“He is quite familiar with the terrain and has given a marching order and I want to appreciate the governors of Lagos and Ogun who have largely supported and keyed into the initiative,” he added.
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