For the second time in less than one week, operatives of the Ogun State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit have neutralised a suspected kidnap kingpin during an intelligence-led operation in the Orile Ilugun Forest axis along the Abeokuta-Ibadan Expressway.
The operation also led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle loaded with 20 rounds of 5.6mm ammunition, N2m suspected to be ransom proceeds, and two mobile phones.
The spokesperson for the state police command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.
According to him, the operation followed the successful rescue of a kidnapping victim who was abducted on May 14, 2026, at Nufats Fuel Station along the Abeokuta-Ibadan Expressway in the Odeda area of the state.
Babaseyi said the victim regained freedom unharmed on May 18 at about 8:30 p.m. after being released by the abductors.
He explained that operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad subsequently intensified intelligence-driven efforts to track down members of the gang responsible for the abduction.
The statement read, “Consequently, on May 19, 2026, at about 6:00 a.m., operatives acting on credible intelligence stormed the kidnappers’ hideout within the Orile-Ilugun Forest axis along the Abeokuta-Ibadan Expressway.
“On sighting the police operatives, the kidnappers opened fire, resulting in a fierce gun duel.
“The operatives responded with superior tactical firepower, leading to the neutralisation of the gang’s kingpin, while other members of the syndicate fled into the forest with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
“Recovered from the scene were one AK-47 rifle loaded with 20 rounds of 5.6mm ammunition, the sum of N2 million, and two mobile phones.”
Babaseyi added that the corpse of the slain suspect had been deposited at a morgue for autopsy while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing gang members.
The state Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, commended the operatives for their gallantry, professionalism, and resilience during the operation.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes across Ogun State.
The police spokesman also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or criminal activities through the command’s emergency lines.
The latest operation comes days after operatives of the command neutralised two suspected kidnappers and arrested an alleged kidnapping kingpin, Seriki Mohammed Abdullahi, alongside another suspect, Mohammed Bello, during a separate intelligence-led raid.
Items recovered during the earlier operation included an AK-47 rifle loaded with 10 rounds of 5.6mm ammunition, a single-barrel gun, N1.5m suspected to be ransom proceeds, several mobile phones, and a black bag.
The command noted that the earlier operation followed sustained investigations into the abduction of three persons at Ipojo Area, Iperin, via Ijebu Ode, on May 11, 2026.
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