One Dead, 9 Rescued With Bullet Injuries As Ogun Police Operatives Foil Lagos-Ibadan Highways Kidnap Attempt

The State Police Operatives have rescued nine kidnapped persons from kidnappers in Ogun while the Lagos Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Philip Aivoji is still in kidnappers’ den.

This is contained in a statement released by the command’s spokesman, SP Omolola Odutola on Saturday.

She said the police’s action followed a report received on the 25th of January, 2024 at about 1900hrs that suspected hoodlums emerged from the bush near Bamboo area of Ogun State, inward Lagos State, along Lagos-Ibadan expressway and kidnapped some people.

She said the yet to be identified gunmen barricaded the highway with articulated vehicles, blocking oncoming motorist and started firing indiscriminately, causing a state of commotion and panic which made motorist to abandon their vehicles and fled for safety into the bush.

“Based on the information, the Divisional Police Officer and his team swiftly raced to the scene together with an Army Patrol team on transit, rapidly returned gun fire which aided the escape of nine kidnapped victims who later rejoined their vehicles and continued their journey. “A White Mazda Bus registered as LSR 288 XE was slightly damaged, while Eunice Afolake Osalusi , Erinfolami Samuel, Obafemi Da Altantra and Adeyinka Mathew sustained non-life threatening bullet injuries while trying to escape from kidnappers, they are recuperating and stable in hospital,” she explained.

She added that one Bilikisu Kazeem, 37, gave up the ghost before getting to the hospital, saying that her remains was immediately collected by her relatives who were conveying her to the hospital, declining any autopsy examination from the police.

“Meanwhile, Philip Aivoji, the Lagos State PDP Chairman is still held captive, but covert operations are in place to ensure his rescued.

“Exhibits recovered include one AK-47 Magazine containing 28 live cartridges believed to belong to the hoodlums, while handsets, car key, were handed over to respective owners.

“However Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations has mobilized Tactical Commanders, on joint operations with other security agencies on the directives of the Commissioner of Police, CP Alamutu Abiodun on tracking mission, to ensure that the victim Philip Aivoji is rescued unhurt,” she said.