Lagos, Ogun Police Launch Forest Operation, Rescue Five Kidnapped Victims, Arrest 88 Suspects

The Lagos State Police Command and Ogun State Police Command have carried out a coordinated forest-wide security operation that led to the rescue of five kidnapped victims and the arrest of 88 suspects across multiple locations in both states.

The operation, codenamed “Operation Kosaye”, was formally launched as a joint security initiative aimed at flushing out criminal elements operating in forests, border communities, and other hard-to-reach hideouts across the South-West region.

According to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the initiative was designed under the directive of the Inspector-General of Police and backed by the Lagos and Ogun State Governments to strengthen internal security and restore public confidence in vulnerable corridors frequently used by kidnappers and armed gangs.

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Security authorities explained that the name “Kosaye,” which translates to “there is no hiding place,” reflects the operational goal of denying criminal groups safe havens within forest belts and inter-state border routes used for abductions and ransom-related crimes.

During the operation, police operatives reportedly combed through extensive forest corridors linking both states, dismantled several suspected criminal camps, and cleared illegal structures believed to have been used as shelters for kidnappers and armed robbers.

The breakthrough came during an intelligence-led raid along the Ijebu-Ode axis, where five kidnapped victims were successfully rescued after being held captive by suspected criminal gangs operating within the forest environment.

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Police authorities further confirmed that during the rescue operation, four suspected kidnappers were neutralised in a gun battle, while four others were arrested alive as part of ongoing investigations into kidnapping networks operating across the region.

In addition to the rescue operation, security teams carried out wider coordinated raids across Lagos and Ogun States, leading to the arrest of 88 suspects linked to various offences including kidnapping, armed robbery, cult-related activities, and illegal possession of weapons.

The police said the arrested suspects are currently undergoing screening and profiling, with investigations ongoing to determine their level of involvement in organised criminal networks operating within the forest corridors and adjoining communities.

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Authorities also noted that the joint operation is part of a sustained crackdown on violent crime in the South-West, particularly targeting kidnappers who exploit forest routes between Lagos and Ogun States to evade security detection.

The police reassured residents that similar coordinated operations will continue across identified hotspots, stressing that the objective is to completely dismantle criminal hideouts and ensure safer movement across highways, rural settlements, and forest corridors.

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