Four suspected kidnappers killed in shootout with Police in Lagos

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have neutralised four suspected kidnappers during a gun duel in the Ejigbo area of the state while foiling an alleged abduction attempt targeting a businessman.

The operation, carried out by the Command’s Special Squad 1 on Sunday night at the Jakande Estate Gate, also led to the recovery of sophisticated weapons, ammunition, and vehicles believed to belong to the criminal gang.

Residents and traders around the area were thrown into panic as heavy gunfire echoed through the neighbourhood during the confrontation, which reportedly lasted until about 11:00 p.m. Many people fled the vicinity for safety as the exchange of fire intensified.

Security sources disclosed that the operation followed credible intelligence indicating that a kidnapping syndicate was planning to abduct a businessman around 9:30 p.m. near the estate gate.

According to a senior police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity, the intelligence report was immediately transmitted to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, who directed the deployment of tactical operatives to the area for surveillance and interception.

The officer identified the alleged leader of the gang simply as Ifeanyi, popularly known as “Ifeko,” claiming that he had been linked to several kidnapping operations within Lagos State.

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The source further alleged that the suspect maintained connections with another notorious kidnapping gang that was neutralised during a police raid at the Ladipo International Spare Parts Market in 2024.

Police sources said the suspects opened fire immediately after sighting the operatives, leading to a fierce gun battle.

“The suspects immediately engaged the operatives upon noticing them, but they were overpowered by superior firepower. At the end of the operation, four suspected kidnappers were neutralised, while one escaped with gunshot injuries,” the source stated.

During the exchange of gunfire, a police inspector attached to the tactical squad sustained a gunshot wound to his left leg. He was promptly rushed to the Police College Hospital in Ikeja, where he is currently receiving treatment and said to be responding positively.

Items recovered from the scene included a Toyota Sienna vehicle, an AK-47 rifle with two magazines loaded with 25 rounds of live ammunition, and a submachine gun fitted with a magazine containing 12 rounds of ammunition.

The police also recovered keys belonging to a Toyota Corolla and a Lexus vehicle suspected to be connected to the gang’s operations.

Authorities said efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspect and dismantle other members of the criminal network.

The latest operation forms part of intensified efforts by the Lagos State Police Command to combat kidnapping, armed robbery, and other violent crimes across the state.