Ogun Police rescue abducted victim in 24 hours, arrest 24 suspects

By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

The Ogun State Police Command has sustained its crackdown on crime with the rescue of an abducted victim in less than 24 hours, the arrest of 24 suspected criminals and the recovery of four firearms, 11 live cartridges, two vehicles, a stolen motorcycle and other stolen property in separate intelligence-led operations across the state.

The operations, carried out between July 23 and July 31 under the Command’s Operation KOSAYE initiative, also led to the arrest of suspects linked to alleged rape, armed robbery, burglary, murder, cultism and cattle rustling, underscoring the police’s renewed offensive against criminal activities in Ogun State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Command, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Abeokuta, saying the achievements reflected the Command’s commitment to proactive policing under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni.

One of the major breakthroughs recorded during the period was the rescue of a 29-year-old man, Sotonwa Oluwameyowa, who was abducted along Ogere Road, Orisunmibare, Iperu-Remo, on July 27.

According to the statement, police operatives attached to the Iperu Division, working in collaboration with the So-Safe Corps and Amotekun, immediately launched a coordinated search of the surrounding forest after receiving a distress call.

The sustained pressure mounted by the joint security team forced the abductors to abandon the victim and flee, leading to his rescue in less than 24 hours. The victim, who sustained injuries during the incident, was taken to a medical facility for treatment and is responding well, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

In another major operation, detectives attached to the Ibogun Division raided a suspected cultists’ hideout at Ibogun Shomi in the early hours of July 31 following credible intelligence that a cult initiation was about to take place. Seventeen suspects were arrested during the raid, while a locally fabricated short gun and an axe were recovered. The suspects are to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

The Command also arrested a 27-year-old suspect for allegedly raping and robbing a woman at Abaren Village, via Ofada. The suspect was alleged to have dragged the victim into a nearby bush at knifepoint, sexually assaulted her and dispossessed her of an iPhone 11, Samsung Galaxy A13 and an HP laptop before he was arrested while attempting to dispose of one of the stolen phones. Investigation is ongoing to recover the remaining items.

In separate operations, police arrested a suspected burglar at Goshen Estate, Obantoko, where an industrial air-conditioning unit and two dismantled generator sets were recovered, while detectives at Ibara Division recovered a Toyota Camry reported stolen a day earlier under Oke Itoku Division and reunited it with its owner.

At Itori, two suspects were arrested while allegedly attempting to invade a cattle ranch, and a Ford bus believed to have been used for the operation was recovered. Police also arrested a suspect over the alleged murder of a 22-year-old man at Alimafo, Atan-Ijebu, following a disagreement, while the case has been transferred to the SCID for further investigation and prosecution.

Similarly, detectives attached to Owode Division, in collaboration with local vigilantes, arrested a suspected motorcycle thief and recovered a stolen Bajaj motorcycle allegedly stolen with a master key outside the Central Mosque, Ajilete Yewa.

The Command further recovered a double-barrel gun and 10 live cartridges from a residence at Ajuwon during the investigation of an alleged assault case, while officers attached to Agbado Division recovered two locally made pistols and one live cartridge abandoned on a perimeter fence following information provided by a vigilant resident.

Commending officers for the successful operations, Ojajuni praised their prompt response and operational alertness.

He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations, strategic patrols and rapid response across the state, while urging residents to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to the police.

The Commissioner also assured residents that the Command would continue to work with other security agencies and community stakeholders to safeguard lives and property and rid the state of criminal elements.