The Ogun State Police Command on Saturday announced that its operatives successfully foiled a kidnap attempt along the Warewa axis of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, killing four suspected kidnappers during a gun battle.
The incident occurred on Friday at approximately 8:30 p.m. when armed bandits ambushed a white Paragon commercial vehicle with number plate BDG 753 YH, driven by Mr. Morufu Adedeji, en route to Lagos.
According to the command’s spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, the armed men forcefully stopped the vehicle, pointed a gun at the driver, and began robbing passengers at gunpoint.
“During the attack, some passengers managed to escape through the rear door, which had been smartly and courageously opened by the driver,” Odutola said. “This act enraged the kidnappers, who then brutally assaulted the driver to the point of unconsciousness.”
Other motorists who witnessed the incident raised an alarm, prompting a swift response from the Anti-Kidnapping Team on patrol.
“Upon arrival, the police operatives engaged the fleeing criminals in a gun duel. Four of the armed men were fatally injured, while others escaped with gunshot wounds into the surrounding forest,” Odutola added.
The bodies of the neutralised suspects have been deposited at the State Hospital Morgue in Ijaiye, Abeokuta, for autopsy and further investigation.
Recovered items at the crime scene include one locally made pistol with two cartridges, two daggers, ₦20,000 in cash, one Tecno Android phone, one solar power bank, and three USB lights, all suspected to have been stolen.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, has reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of residents and commuters along the expressway.
To bolster security in the area, CP Ogunlowo has reinforced tactical operatives and ordered them to remain stationed at strategic flashpoints, particularly in Arepo, while intensifying routine patrols.
The command also urged members of the public, especially medical practitioners, to report any individuals seeking treatment for gunshot wounds, as some suspects are believed to have fled with injuries.
