What was meant to be the start of an annual leave for Temiloluwa Faith, an IT officer based in Edo State, turned into a terrifying kidnap ordeal after heavily armed gunmen ambushed commuters along the Ogbere axis of the Sagamu-Benin Expressway in Ogun State.
The victims, who spent nearly 24 hours in captivity, have narrated how they were beaten, robbed, forced to trek barefoot through dense forests, and ordered to pay a combined ransom of ₦170 million before they were dramatically rescued by a joint security operation codenamed Operation Kosaye.
Journey Turns Into Nightmare
Temiloluwa said the incident occurred around 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, while she was travelling home with her company’s senior manager.
According to her, gunshots suddenly rang out, causing three vehicles to collide.
“It was around 4 p.m. when we heard gunshots. There was a vehicle in front of us and another behind us. All three vehicles collided at the same time. I hit my head on the front seat and lost some of my teeth,” she recounted.
While the vehicle owner escaped through the driver’s side, Temiloluwa was trapped inside because the door became jammed. Another passenger stayed behind to shield her after noticing she was bleeding, but was eventually dragged away by the kidnappers.
The assailants stole her wristwatch, bracelet and even the ₦500 she intended to use to buy plantain chips before marching her and four other victims deep into the forest.
Four-Hour Trek Into Captivity
The victims described trekking barefoot for nearly four hours through thick bushes, streams and thorn-filled paths under armed guard.
“We walked in single file. They surrounded us from the front, middle and back. There was no opportunity to escape,” Temiloluwa said.
Widow Shot After Husband’s Burial
Among the victims was Mrs. Blessing Nsofor, who had just buried her husband in Anambra State and was travelling home with her children and sister.
She was shot in the hand after refusing to leave the vehicle quickly enough.
The kidnappers then abducted one of her daughters—the surviving twin after she had previously lost another child—and her sister, forcing them into the forest.
“He told me to come out or he would shoot. As I was trying to get down, he shot me in the hand,” she recalled.
Her daughter, Amara Nsofor, said the kidnappers warned them not to contact anyone while in captivity, threatening to kill anyone caught making phone calls.
Gang Leader Demands ₦170 Million
Inside the forest, the victims met the gang leader, identified only as “Babangida,” who allegedly addressed them in the presence of other armed members communicating in Fulani.
According to Jimoh Gbadamosi, another victim, the kidnappers openly admitted they were kidnappers before returning the victims’ phones and instructing them to call their families for ransom negotiations.
The gang demanded:
- ₦70 million for Temiloluwa and Gbadamosi (₦30m and ₦40m respectively)
- ₦40 million from Amara’s family after reducing an initial ₦50 million demand
- ₦50 million from Ogechi Onuorah, an Enugu indigene returning from her mother’s burial.
Ogechi alleged that the gang leader claimed she was specifically targeted because she is Igbo, accusing Easterners of killing Fulani herders and cattle.
Police Rescue Ends 24-Hour Ordeal
Hope returned in the early hours of Friday when heavy gunfire echoed through the forest.
The kidnappers fled as operatives from a joint Ogun-Lagos police task force advanced into the area.
Initially unsure whether the approaching men were friend or foe, the victims remained on the ground until one of them identified the rescuers as police officers.
The operation, codenamed Operation Kosaye, successfully rescued all five victims less than 24 hours after the abduction.
“I Will Never Speak Badly About the Police Again”
The rescued victims praised the Nigeria Police Force for risking their lives to secure their freedom.
Mrs. Nsofor admitted she had previously held negative views about the police.
“I used to join people in speaking badly about the police, but from that day, I have stopped. God forgive me. They did an excellent job.”
Temiloluwa also commended the officers for providing medical attention, food and emotional support immediately after the rescue.
“If someone had told me before now that the police would rescue us, I wouldn’t have believed it. They truly risked their lives for us.”
Victims Call for Stronger Security Measures
The victims urged the Federal Government to clear dense forests along major highways, arguing that abandoned bush paths have become safe havens for kidnappers.
They also called for improved welfare, promotions and better weaponry for security personnel involved in combating violent crimes.
Police Confirm Arrests, Criminal Camps Destroyed
Briefing journalists, Bode Ojajuni said the rescue followed directives from Olatunji Disu.
He disclosed that four kidnappers were killed during a gun battle, while four additional suspects were arrested during follow-up operations.
The police also confirmed that extensive bush-combing operations across Ogun, Lagos and Oyo states led to the dismantling of criminal camps and the arrest of 84 suspects, comprising 75 males and nine females.
Abiodun Commends Security Operatives
Meanwhile, Dapo Abiodun praised the success of Operation Kosaye, describing it as a major victory against highway criminality.
The governor commended the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioners of Police for Ogun and Lagos States for their professionalism and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to investing in surveillance technology, logistics and other security infrastructure to sustain the fight against kidnappers and violent criminal groups.
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