Gun-wielding militants invaded Ishawo area of Ikorodu, Lagos State, and killed an Army captain, who led the Joint Task Force on Anti-Militancy, and four policemen. The captain is identified as Muhammad. The incident occurred at Yewa-Olaloko area of Ishawo.
Doctors are battling to save the life of the survivor of the gory attack, a Divisional Police Officer (DPO). The commander of the militants and two of his members were also killed in the gun duel that ensued between security agents and the hoodlums.
In all, 12 people were said to have been killed in the attack. Members of the Joint Task Force on Anti-Militancy in Lagos and Ogun states, called Operation Awatse, were said to have been ambushed on their way to Olaloko area in the early hours of yesterday, while on a mission to rescue eight kidnapped victims.
The militants also set the security agents’ operational Hilux van on fire. A source said: “The soldiers, policemen and operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) went to the area in an attempt to rescue some abducted victims. The militants opened fire on them. The DPO was critically wounded. It’s doubtful if he will survive.”
A resident of the area, who identified himself simply as Gbemisola, said eight residents were abducted, after which the community alerted the police. Police were said to have moved immediately, with soldiers, but ran into an ambush.
The resident recounted: “The exchange of gun battle woke us up about midnight which lasted till 3a.m. Members of the Joint Task Force, deployed in the creeks of Lagos and Ogun states, were on their way to rescue the victims when they were ambushed by the kidnappers, who opened fire on them, killing four policemen and two soldiers instantly.
“In the exchange of gun battle which ensued, the commander of the militants was killed, while two of his men were also gunned down by the police. The death of their commander infuriated the militants, making them to kill three of their captives.
They fled with five other victims.” Our correspondent, who was at the community yesterday, was told that the militants cum kidnappers have invaded Ishawo on Friday and attempted to abduct three landlords, but one of the victims escaped. A witness gave the name of the landlord, who escaped as Osaze, a car dealer.
But, according to the witness, the kidnappers came for Osaze about midnight on Saturday. “After breaking into Osaze’s house, the gunmen ordered him into his vehicle. They poured petrol on the vehicle and set the man ablaze. It was the fire that attracted the task force. “The task force engaged the militants in a shootout. The task force called for reinforcement from Owutu Police Division,” the witness added. According to the source, when the policemen arrived, they chased the militants into the creeks. “Unknown to them, the militants did not flee.
They laid an ambush which the security agents ran into,” the witness added. Some of the residents said they could not come out of their houses because of the fear of the gunmen. “We locked ourselves up in our houses until the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, came to address us and gave us assurance that more policemen would be deployed in this community. He said we should not entertain fear. “But in the next few minutes everybody will go into his house because we don’t know what will happen next.
We cannot move freely until there is improved security,” a resident said. Another resident said that militants, who were dispersed after the bombardment of the creeks, were gradually regrouping and becoming formidable. “The militants have come back and are kidnapping every day.
Government should be more proactive on this development. We don’t wish for death of policemen and soldiers in this manner. What we are asking is that police should set up a command at that creek. They should treat it like what they have done in Sambisa forest in the North-East. A serious military intervention is needed here,” the resident added.
Reacting to the incident,Owoseni said that about 1a.m. yesterday, the police received a distress call that a group of militants/kidnappers entered Owutu- Isawo in Ikorodu through the thick swampy forest surrounding the area.
He said: “The militants/ kidnappers kidnapped some residents. In response, the police and the Army immediately mobilised personnel to the area, where the victims were rescued. Sadly, however, five out of the gallant, brave and patriotic officers lost their lives during the rescue operation. One of them is a Nigerian Army captain while the remaining four are policemen. One of the residents in the area also died. We pray that the God Almighty reward their loyalty to the nation with paradise and peaceful rest. We also pray that God gives their respective families the courage to bear the loss.”
The remains of the security agents and resident have been evacuated to the mortuary. The Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations (ADDAPR), Lt. Col. Olaolu Daodu, said that the combined team was able to foil the kidnap attempt and rescued all the abducted victims.
“Nine of the victims including an infant of about two-year-old were rescued from the criminals. However, on their way back, they were ambushed by a suspected criminal gang. During the clearance of the ambush, unfortunately four policemen lost their lives while the army officer who led the operation sustained gunshot wounds and die on the way to the hospital.
“Similarly, four of the rescued kidnapped victims including the infant sustained injuries during the encounter. They have all been evacuated to a hospital and are responding to treatment,” Daodu said.The army spokesman said a combined team of the Police and Military was in hot pursuit of the suspected kidnappers who fled the scene carrying the dead bodies of their colleagues and the wounded. Meanwhile, Lagos State government yesterday commiserated with families of the four policemen and Army captain.
In a statement, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, described the incident as unfortunate, but insisted that it would only strengthen government’s resolve to remove crime and criminalities from the state.
Ayorinde said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was deeply touched by the incident and condoled with the families of the slain officers. He said: “The governor, however, assures the police and general public of his support and commitment to rid the state of every form of militancy, kidnapping, and illegal waterfront shanties that harbour criminals.”
The commissioner added that the unfortunate incident in Ishawo had further reinforced government’s resolve to go after criminal elements and their collaborators using coastal areas and illegal waterfront settlements as havens or escape routes to perpetrate evil and criminal activities.
Ayorinde added that every perpetrator directly or remotely linked to the Ishawo dastardly act would be brought to justice in the shortest possible time. He said: “We wish to solicit the understanding and support of the public on the need to rid our waterways of illegal shanties that are not only an eyesore to our collective decency, but have become a fertile ground for breeding illicit and illegal activities that constitute danger to the security and wellbeing of the larger public.”
