Police Mobilise Vigilantes, Hunters To Rescue Two Kidnap Victims In Lagos
Two residents kidnapped from the Ijede Creek area of Ikorodu, Lagos State, have been rescued unhurt following a coordinated operation by the Lagos State Police Command, local vigilantes, and hunters.
According to the spokesperson of the state police Command, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the victims were abducted from a remote creek-side settlement approximately two days ago.
A distress call received around 10:00 p.m. at the Ijede Police Division alerted authorities to gunshots in the Igbe Creek area, prompting an immediate response.
A combined team of over fifteen tactical police units, detectives, conventional officers, local vigilantes, and hunters were mobilized to the scene.
Hundeyin said that preliminary investigations confirmed that the victims were forcefully taken by unidentified gunmen, who escaped through the creek and adjoining forest areas.
Acting on the directive of the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, a large-scale rescue operation was launched.
The security teams blocked all exit and entry points to the creek and forest, sweeping the area in a well-coordinated effort. Their efforts led to the successful release of the kidnapped victims at about 10:00 p.m. on Sunday night.
“At approximately 2200hrs on the said date, a distress report was received at Ijede Division indicating gunshots in the vicinity of Igbe Creek Side settlement. Acting swiftly, combined teams of more than fifteen police tactical squads, detectives, conventional policemen, local vigilantes, hunters and the locals were immediately mobilized to the scene.
“It was confirmed that the two victims, both residents by Ijede Creek, whose houses are inside the creek had been attacked and abducted by unidentified hoodlums who fled via the creek and adjoining forest,” Hundeyin said in a statement on Monday.
The victims have since been reunited with their families.
As of press time, the search continues for the kidnappers, with tactical squads and local volunteers combing the surrounding forest to ensure the perpetrators are apprehended and future attacks are prevented.
“All police tactical teams, squads and other detectives in collaboration with the vigilantes, hunters and locals mentioned earlier in paragraph 2 above are currently combing the creek and the adjoining forest to apprehend the kidnappers to prevent further attacks on the ijede creek residents and bring them to justice,” he stated.
Hundeyin urged residents—especially those living in remote creek and forest areas—to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police through emergency numbers.
“The Lagos State Police Command commends the bravery of its officers and cooperation of the local vigilantes, hunters, and community members whose swift response was instrumental to the success of the operations despite the difficulties encountered in accessing the area, which by all standards pose a danger to security and safety of the residents living inside this creek and forest in the affected areas.
“The Command further reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents of Lagos State.
“The members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and security conscious at all times most especially the residents residing inside the ijede creek and other difficult terrains in the forest around the area. They should report any suspicious activities to the Police Division or Police tactical squads deployed for their safety in the area or the nearest police station or via the Command’s emergency lines: 08063299264 or 08065154338,” he added.
Police Mobilise Vigilantes, Hunters To Rescue Two Kidnap Victims In Lagos is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
