The Lagos State Police Command has provided a detailed account of the operation that led to the dismantling of the notorious “Ladipo Kidnap Gang,” following a fierce gun battle in the Ejigbo area of the state.
The operation, which occurred late Sunday night, was described by security sources as a carefully coordinated ambush that ended years of organised kidnappings targeting residents, entrepreneurs, and high-profile individuals across Lagos.
According to police accounts, the decisive encounter took place on May 24, 2026, at about 9:30 p.m. near the Jakande Estate Gate in Ejigbo. Tactical operatives of the Lagos State Police Command had acted on credible intelligence indicating that members of the syndicate were converging at the location to abduct a prominent businessman.
On arrival, the suspects reportedly encountered the police team already positioned at the scene. Upon sighting the operatives, the armed gang members immediately opened fire, triggering a prolonged exchange of gunfire between both sides.
A police spokesperson confirmed that four members of the gang were neutralised during the shootout, while one suspect escaped with severe gunshot injuries. A manhunt has since been launched to track down the fleeing suspect. During the confrontation, a police inspector sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and was quickly evacuated to a medical facility, where he is receiving treatment and is said to be in stable condition.
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Following the operation, officers recovered weapons and materials believed to have been used by the gang in its criminal activities. These included an AK-47 assault rifle with loaded magazines, a submachine gun, a Toyota Sienna operational vehicle, and several keys linked to vehicles previously used in kidnapping incidents. Authorities say the recovery underscores the group’s level of organisation and its sustained operational capacity.
Investigators further described the Ladipo Kidnap Gang as a highly coordinated criminal network that relied on long-term surveillance of victims. The group reportedly tracked targets for days or weeks, studying their movements, family routines, and security patterns before executing swift abductions, often in traffic or around residential estates.
The gang was previously linked to Henry Asoona, who was neutralised in 2024 during an operation at the Ladipo International Spare Parts Market. Security intelligence also points to a transnational figure identified as Ifeanyi, also known as “Ifeko,” who allegedly coordinated logistics and training for the network from abroad. He is believed to have returned to Nigeria in May 2026 to oversee a new wave of planned kidnappings before the latest police operation disrupted the network.
The success of the Ejigbo operation has been praised as a significant milestone for the CP Fatai Tijani-led command, which reaffirmed its commitment to sustained crackdowns on kidnapping syndicates and violent criminal groups across the state.
The police have also urged members of the public and medical facilities to report any individual seeking treatment for gunshot wounds that match the description of the fleeing suspect, as the manhunt continues.
