By James
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Fresh fears over insecurity and political violence gripped Lagos on Monday after operatives of the Lagos State Police Command killed four suspected kidnappers during a gun battle in Ejigbo, while, in a separate development, armed thugs attacked a spokesperson of the Lagos State House of Assembly in Oshodi.
The twin incidents, which unfolded within hours of each other, have renewed concerns over the growing intersection of violent crime, political intimidation and public safety challenges in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
The Lagos State Police Command Special Squad reportedly neutralised four suspected kidnappers during a late-night operation around Jakande Estate Gate in Ejigbo on Sunday.
According to police sources, the operation followed intelligence indicating that a notorious kidnapping gang had concluded plans to abduct a businessman in the area around 9:30 p.m.
Residents and traders around Jakande Estate were thrown into panic as sustained gunfire echoed through the neighbourhood until nearly 11:00 p.m., forcing many to abandon their businesses and flee for safety.
Security sources disclosed that the Commissioner of Police had received actionable intelligence concerning the planned abduction, prompting tactical operatives to storm the area and place the suspects under surveillance before the confrontation erupted.
A senior police source alleged that the gang was led by a suspected kidnap kingpin identified simply as Ifeanyi, popularly called “Ifeko,” who was said to have been linked to several previous kidnapping operations across Lagos.
The source further claimed that the suspect maintained connections with members of a notorious kidnapping syndicate previously dismantled by security operatives during a major raid around the Ladipo International Spare Parts Market in 2024.
According to the police account, the suspects allegedly opened fire immediately they noticed the operatives, triggering a fierce exchange of gunfire.
“The operatives responded with superior firepower. Four suspected kidnappers were neutralised, while another escaped with gunshot injuries,” the source stated.
During the operation, a police inspector attached to the squad sustained a gunshot wound to his left leg and was rushed to the Police College Hospital in Ikeja, where he is reportedly responding to treatment.
Security operatives recovered several items from the scene, including a Toyota Sienna vehicle, an AK-47 rifle with two magazines loaded with 25 rounds of live ammunition, a submachine gun containing 12 rounds of ammunition, as well as keys belonging to Toyota Corolla and Lexus vehicles suspected to be linked to the gang’s operations.
Police authorities said efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspect and dismantle the remaining network of the syndicate.
Although Lagos has historically been regarded as safer than many parts of Nigeria, recent incidents of abduction, cult-related violence and armed robbery have heightened public anxiety.
Security analysts say criminal groups displaced from neighbouring states are increasingly targeting densely populated commercial centres such as Lagos, exploiting urban anonymity and economic desperation.
The Ejigbo incident has once again drawn attention to the evolving security architecture of Lagos and the growing pressure on law enforcement agencies to contain violent criminal networks before they become deeply entrenched.
In another disturbing development, suspected political thugs on Monday attacked Ogundipe Olukayode, popularly known as Omojomolo, spokesperson of the Lagos State House of Assembly and a contestant in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries.
The attack reportedly occurred about 12:10 p.m. at Afariogun Junction along the Airport Road service lane in Oshodi.
Eyewitnesses said about four armed men riding on two motorcycles intercepted and attacked the vehicle conveying the politician, smashing the windshield and side windows in what many described as a calculated assault.
Ogundipe, who reportedly emerged victorious in the APC primaries for the Lagos State House of Assembly seat, was said to have sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
His media office confirmed the incident in a brief statement, saying: “Yes, he was attacked and is currently receiving medical attention.”
The attack has intensified fears over rising political tension ahead of future electoral contests in Lagos, particularly within the ruling APC where internal rivalries have occasionally generated controversy.
Reacting to the incident, the Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in Oshodi-Isolo Local Council, Kayode Tinubu, condemned the violence and warned against any attempt to destabilise the relative peace that Oshodi has enjoyed in recent years.
He described the attack as dangerous and unnecessary, stressing that political disagreements should never degenerate into violence, intimidation or bloodshed.
Officers from the Nigeria Police Force division in Makinde, Mafoluku-Oshodi, later visited the scene and reportedly assured residents that investigations had commenced to identify and arrest the attackers.
The two incidents have sparked widespread reactions among residents, political observers and civil society groups, many of whom fear that rising insecurity and political violence could threaten public confidence and stability in Lagos.
Observers warn that unless decisive action is taken against criminal gangs and political thuggery, the state risks sliding into a dangerous cycle where violence becomes normalised both in the streets and within the political space.
Many residents have therefore called on security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering, ensure swift prosecution of offenders and prevent Lagos from drifting into an atmosphere of fear, lawlessness and impunity.
