An attempt to kidnap a businessman in Ejigbo area of Lagos has been foiled by the Commissioner of Police Command’s Special Squad and four of the suspected kidnappers were killed in the fierce gun battle during the operation.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the gun battle, which lasted for several hours, happened at Jakande Estate Gate in Ejigbo on Sunday night.
It led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, another firearm, live ammunition and vehicles allegedly linked to the suspects.
The kidnappers were said to have suffered more causalities but some of them managed to escape while Police officers were injured and are receiving treatment.
According to the residents, the gunfire lasted until about 11:00p.m., forcing traders to close their shops and residents in the area to flee for safety over fear of stray bullets.
Police sources said that the operation followed intelligence reports that a notorious kidnapping syndicate planned to abduct a businessman at the estate gate, making the Police to move into action in the area on routine monitoring.
A senior Police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the intelligence was received by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, prompting operatives to move to the area and monitor the suspects’ activities.
Police source identified the suspected gang leader simply as Ifeanyi, popularly known as “Ifeko,” alleging that he had been linked to previous kidnapping operations in Lagos.
He further claimed that the suspect was connected to the leader of a gang of suspected billionaire kidnappers killed during a Police operation at Ladipo International Spare Parts Market in 2024.
According to the officer, the suspects opened fire on the operatives upon sighting them, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
“The gang sighted the Police and immediately opened fire, but the operatives responded with superior firepower. At the end of the gun duel, four suspected kidnappers were neutralised, while another escaped with gunshot wounds,” the source said.
During the operation, a Police inspector attached to the squad sustained a gunshot wound on his left leg and was rushed to the Police College Hospital in Ikeja, where he is reportedly responding to treatment.
Items recovered from the scene included a Toyota Sienna vehicle, one AK-47 rifle with two magazines loaded with 25 rounds of live ammunition, a submachine gun with a magazine containing 12 rounds of ammunition, as well as Toyota Corolla and Lexus vehicle keys.
Police authorities said efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect and other members of the alleged gang.
The Police Public Relations Officer was contacted over the incident but she did not pick her call for comments on the matter.