Operation KOSAYE Delivers Major Security Gains: Ogun Police Charge 84 Suspected Kidnappers, CP Ojajuni Warns Against Ethnic Profiling
By Femi Mebude | Ijebu TodayJuly 29, 2026
IJEBU-ODE – Operation KOSAYE, the joint security initiative launched by the Ogun and Lagos State Governments to combat kidnapping and violent crimes, has recorded major successes with the prosecution of 84 suspected kidnappers and other criminal suspects, the rescue of several victims, and the dismantling of criminal hideouts across Ogun State.
The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, disclosed the achievements while addressing journalists after a stakeholders' security meeting held at the Ijebu-Ode Police Area Command, Igbeba, Ijebu-Ode. At the same time, he issued a strong appeal to residents to reject ethnic profiling, insisting that criminality has no tribal identity.
"Crime is crime, criminality is criminality and a criminal is a criminal. We should stop labelling any particular tribe as criminal," the Commissioner declared.
CP Ojajuni revealed that since the commencement of Operation KOSAYE, 84 suspected kidnappers and other criminal suspects have been charged to court, while many kidnapped victims have been rescued through coordinated intelligence-led operations involving the Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogun State Amotekun Corps, So-Safe Corps, Vigilante Groups, Hunters and community stakeholders.
"You can see that Operation KOSAYE is speaking for itself. You can see the tremendous achievements. You can see the victims that we rescued. You can also see that we are still making arrests. Over 84 suspects have already been charged to court through Operation KOSAYE," he said.
The Commissioner explained that Operation KOSAYE is a collaborative security operation jointly executed by the Ogun and Lagos State Police Commands with the support of the governments of Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun CON and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to him, the operation has concentrated on flushing out kidnappers and other criminal elements from forests and remote hideouts in Ijebu East, the Ogun–Ondo boundary communities, Iwopin, Abigi, and other forest corridors that had become safe havens for criminals.
He emphasised that the operation remains continuous and would be sustained to prevent criminal elements from regrouping.
"It is an ongoing operation; it is not a one-off exercise. We have cleared forests, unoccupied territories and large expanses of land where criminals operated, but we cannot stop there. We must sustain the campaign, and that is exactly what we are doing," he said.
While acknowledging the remarkable progress made, CP Ojajuni urged residents not to lower their guard. He appealed for continued public support through timely and credible intelligence, stressing that community participation remains critical to sustaining the gains already achieved
He also warned residents against collaborating with criminal elements, noting that investigations had shown that some kidnappers receive information and assistance from people within the communities where they operate.
The Commissioner praised the effective collaboration among security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders, the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), vigilante groups and hunters, describing their partnership as one of the major reasons behind the success of Operation KOSAYE.
He further commended members of the Ijebu diaspora for donating drone equipment used during one of the kidnapping rescue operations in the Ijebu corridor, describing the gesture as a demonstration of their commitment to the security of their homeland.
CP Ojajuni also reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force's ongoing enforcement of regulations on unauthorised tinted vehicle glass, explaining that the policy is intended to strengthen public safety and enhance law enforcement's ability to identify occupants of vehicles. He maintained that only persons with valid medical reasons and officially approved permits should use tinted glass.
The stakeholders' meeting was attended by the Area Commander, Ijebu-Ode Area Command, ACP Wasiu Yusuf; Commander Yemi Odukoya of the So-Safe Corps; ACC D. O. Adeniji and CSP Adeniyi Gbenga of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps; Commander Balogun Aliu of the Ogun State Amotekun Corps; members of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC); traditional rulers; community leaders; market leaders; vigilante groups; hunters and representatives of other security organisations.
In his welcome address, ACP Wasiu Yusuf thanked the Commissioner of Police for the visit, describing it as a morale booster for officers and a strong signal that criminality would not be tolerated within the Ijebu-Ode Area Command. He reaffirmed the command's commitment to intelligence-led policing, professionalism, respect for human rights and zero tolerance for indiscipline while appealing for additional patrol vehicles, operational equipment and personnel to improve security coverage.
The meeting also featured the presentation of the book "Security and Community Policing in Nigeria" to CP Ojajuni by its author, Dr Jack Mbom, Security Consultant to the Ogun State PCRC. According to Dr Mbom, the publication is aimed at promoting security awareness, improving public understanding of community policing and strengthening collaboration between citizens and law enforcement agencies.
The event concluded with an interactive session during which stakeholders discussed the security situation in Ijebuland, the progress of Operation KOSAYE, community policing initiatives and the activities of the Police Complaints Response Unit.
