Police begin operation “Kosaye” in Ogun, Lagos, arrest 88 suspects, rescue 5 kidnapped victims

Operatives of the Ogun and Lagos Police Command have arrested 88 suspects, rescued five kidnapped victims and killed four during its operation “Kosaye” (no chance) exercise.

The joint operation and bush combing exercise, carried out across Ogun, Lagos and up to the boundary Oyo State led to the arrest of 84 suspects, 75 males and 9 females.

Addressing newsmen on Saturday at the 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 states.

Ojajuni stated that during the operation, five victims who were kidnapped along Ore–Ogbere  road on Thursday were rescued.

He noted that during the rescue operation, four kidnappers were killed and another four were arrested.

Ojajuni said, “We formally launch operation “Kosaye” in Lagos and Ogun state. Operation “Kosaye” means there is no space for criminality and criminals. It is an idea and initiative of the Inspector General of Police and lightly supported and sponsored by the governors of Lagos and Ogun State.

“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 ally the fears of the citizens and rumors of banditry. We are free of bandits or kidnappers, both in Lagos no single Nigeria is in their hands.

“We have cleared the bushes right from Ikeja down to Kara bridge, to Reedem 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 bounded.

“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 Express.

“It may gladden your mind to know that on the marching order of the inspector general of police, operation ko saye 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, rifles, English pistols, locally-made pistols, phones among others.

The Ogun CP called for calm, urging residents 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 the fears of residents over bandits in the states, nothing 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 continues and will be replicated across 

“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 is 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 hoarse. 

“He is quite familiar of the terrain and has given a march order and I want to appreciate the governors of Lagos and Ogun who have largely supported and keyed into the initiative” he added.