The Ogun State Police Command has successfully thwarted a kidnap attempt on travelers along the Warewa section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, neutralizing four armed suspects in the process.
According to a statement released on Saturday by the Command’s spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, the incident occurred on Friday around 8:30 p.m. when gunmen ambushed a commercial vehicle with registration number BDG 753 YH.
The vehicle, a white Paragon bus driven by Morufu Adedeji, was heading towards Lagos when the attackers forced it to stop at gunpoint and began robbing passengers.
During the attack, some of the passengers managed to escape after the driver courageously opened the rear door. This act reportedly enraged the assailants, who brutally assaulted the driver, rendering him unconscious.
“Other motorists raised an alarm, prompting a swift response from our Anti-Kidnapping Team on patrol. On arrival, our operatives engaged the criminals in a fierce gun battle,” Odutola stated.
She further disclosed that four of the attackers sustained fatal injuries, while others managed to escape into the surrounding forest with gunshot wounds.
The bodies of the neutralized suspects have been taken to the State Hospital Morgue in Ijaiye, Abeokuta, for autopsy and further investigation.
Security operatives recovered a locally made pistol with two cartridges, two daggers, ₦20,000 in cash, a Tecno Android phone, a solar power bank, and three USB lights suspected to have been stolen.
In response to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, has reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of commuters and residents along the highway.
“To further strengthen security in the area, I have ordered the deployment of more tactical operatives to strategic flashpoints in Arepo and its environs. Routine patrols have also been intensified to prevent further criminal activities,” CP Ogunlowo stated.
The police urged members of the public, particularly medical professionals, to report any individuals seeking treatment for gunshot wounds, as efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects continue.
