Panic gripped residents of Ijede Creekside, Ikorodu, on Thursday night, as gun-wielding kidnappers struck under the cover of darkness. But in a swift and daring response, operatives of the Lagos State Police Command stormed the area, rescuing two abducted victims from the clutches of their assailants.
The incident, which occurred around 10:00 p.m., sent shockwaves through the Ijede community, a densely populated suburb along the waterways of Lagos. According to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, a distress call reporting heavy gunfire in the vicinity of Ijede Creekside triggered the immediate deployment of officers from the Ijede Division.
Hundeyin confirmed that the operatives wasted no time in moving in to secure the area, despite the obvious risks. Their intervention, he said, led to the rescue of two kidnap victims who were reportedly dragged away by gunmen into the thick darkness surrounding the creek.
While details about the kidnappers’ identity or the motive behind the abduction remain unclear, residents say the attackers came via the waterways, a known route exploited by criminals in previous cases of abduction and oil theft in Lagos.
“Gunshots rent the air. Everyone was in panic. We thank the police for acting fast. If not, this story would have been different,” a resident who requested anonymity said.
The victims, whose names were withheld for security reasons, were reportedly undergoing debriefing and medical check-up following their ordeal. Their condition is said to be stable.
As of press time, no arrests have been made, but investigations are ongoing. The Lagos State Police Command has promised to intensify patrols and surveillance in the area, especially around waterway communities vulnerable to such criminal operations.
Residents, meanwhile, are calling on the government to boost marine security, install surveillance cameras, and ensure that creeks and waterfronts no longer serve as hideouts for armed gangs.
This is a developing story.
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