Police Launch ‘Operation Kosaye’ In Lagos, Ogun; Rescue Five Kidnap Victims, Arrest 88 Suspects

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The Nigeria Police Force has launched Operation Kosaye, a joint security initiative involving the Lagos and Ogun State Police Commands, aimed at dismantling kidnapping networks, clearing criminal hideouts and tackling other violent crimes across the two neighbouring states.

The operation, officially launched on Saturday at the Police Training School, Iperu-Remo, has already recorded significant successes, including the rescue of five kidnapped victims, the neutralisation of four suspected kidnappers, and the arrest of 88 criminal suspects.

Speaking at the launch, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni, said the operation was initiated by the Nigeria Police Force under the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, with logistical support from the Lagos and Ogun State governments.

He explained that “Kosaye,” a Yoruba expression meaning “there is no hiding place for criminals,” reflects the mission of the operation to flush out kidnappers and other criminal elements from forests, border communities, and illegal camps used as safe havens.

“Today, we are formally launching Operation Kosaye, a joint security initiative between the Lagos and Ogun State Police Commands. The name Kosaye means ‘there is no hiding place for criminals,’” Ojajuni said.

According to him, the operation is designed to eliminate kidnapping and other violent crimes while restoring public confidence in security across the Lagos-Ogun corridor.

The police commissioner disclosed that operatives had already combed and cleared several forests and border communities stretching across both states, dismantled criminal camps, and destroyed illegal shanties used as hideouts by suspected criminals.

Highlighting the achievements recorded so far, Ojajuni said one of the major breakthroughs was the rescue of five kidnapped victims along the Ijebu-Ode corridor following the directive of the Inspector-General of Police.

He added that four suspected kidnappers were killed during the rescue operation, while another four were arrested. In addition, 84 other criminal suspects were apprehended in separate operations across Lagos and Ogun, bringing the total number of arrests under Operation Kosaye to 88.

The police also displayed an assortment of weapons and other exhibits recovered from the suspects, including AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, locally fabricated pistols, ammunition, mobile phones, and communication gadgets.

Ojajuni urged residents not to be alarmed by the heavy deployment of security personnel across strategic locations, assuring them that the increased police presence was part of ongoing efforts to eliminate criminal activities.

He also appealed to members of the public to support security agencies by reporting individuals with suspicious gunshot wounds or providing credible intelligence that could assist ongoing investigations.
Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Fatai Tijani, said the joint operation had already reclaimed several forests and border communities previously occupied by kidnappers and other criminal gangs.

According to Tijani, the operation was conceived to deny criminals the opportunity to use the forests linking Lagos and Ogun as operational bases.

“Our personnel have systematically combed these areas, dismantled criminal camps and restored security to the affected corridors,” he said.

He stressed that Operation Kosaye is not a one-off exercise but a sustained security campaign that will continue for as long as necessary to ensure residents of both states can carry out their lawful activities without fear.

Tijani commended the Inspector-General of Police for initiating the operation and appreciated the support of the Lagos and Ogun State governments for providing the logistics that enabled its implementation.

He expressed optimism that the collaborative security model would be replicated in other parts of the country, noting that close cooperation among neighbouring police commands remains essential in combating cross-border crimes.

The two commissioners also acknowledged the support of Dapo Abiodun and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, assuring residents that the joint operation would be sustained until criminal activities across both states are decisively curtailed.