Operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Ogun State Police Command have killed a suspected kidnapping kingpin during an intelligence-led operation in a forest hideout along the Abeokuta–Ibadan Expressway.
The operation, carried out in the Orile-Ilugun Forest axis, also led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, ₦2 million suspected to be ransom proceeds, and mobile phones.
The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.
According to him, the raid 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 was released unharmed by the abductors on May 18 at about 8:30 p.m., after which operatives intensified efforts to track down members of the criminal gang.
“The victim regained freedom unharmed on the 18th of May 2026 at about 8:30 p.m. after being released by the abductors,” he said.
He explained that acting on credible intelligence, operatives stormed the kidnappers’ hideout in the early hours of Tuesday.
“Consequently, on the 19th of May 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,” Babaseyi stated.
He added that the suspects opened fire upon sighting the police team, resulting in a gun duel.
“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,” he said.
Items recovered from the scene included one AK-47 rifle loaded with 20 rounds of 5.6mm ammunition, ₦2 million cash and two mobile phones.
“Recovered from the scene were one AK-47 rifle loaded with twenty rounds of 5.6mm ammunition, the sum of Two Million Naira (₦2,000,000), and two mobile phones,” the statement added.
The police spokesperson said the body of the deceased suspect had been deposited at a morgue for autopsy, while efforts were ongoing to arrest fleeing members of the gang.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Bode Ojajuni, commended the operatives for their professionalism and resilience during the operation.
The command also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through its emergency lines.
The police recalled that operatives had, less than a week ago, neutralised two suspected kidnappers and arrested an alleged gang leader, Seriki Mohammed Abdullahi, alongside another suspect, Mohammed Bello, during a separate intelligence-led operation linked to the abduction of three persons in Ijebu Ode.
