The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has revealed that Folashade, wife of retired AIG Hakeem Odumosu, who was kidnapped on January 16, 2025, was rescued in a swampy area of Ikorodu where the kidnappers kept her.
The revelation was made on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a press statement he issued.
According to him, the kidnappers were planning their next attack when police operatives swooped on them in the early hours of Thursday.
The police spokesman said the kidnappers engaged the operatives in a gun duel but succumbed later.
Two of the kidnappers were neutralized, he said, while four others fled the scene.
Mrs Odumosu, he stated, was rescued unhurt while the sum of N10 million earlier dispatched as ransom was recovered. s
Some of the weapons of the kidnappers were also said to have been recovered.
The statement reads in part:
“In a commendable display of teamwork and swift action, police operatives attached to the Ogun State Command have successfully neutralized the kidnappers of Mrs. Odumosu, wife of Retired Assistant-Inspector General, AIG Hakeem Odumosu, and rescued her unharmed.
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“On January 16, 2025, at approximately 9:45 PM, four masked gunmen forcibly abducted Mrs. Odumosu from her Lexus Jeep outside her residence in Arepo, Ogun State. The abduction sparked an immediate response from the anti-kidnapping unit of the Ogun State Police Command, who commenced a thorough investigation and targeted pursuit of the kidnappers.
“With the support of the Force Headquarters technical intelligence platforms, the Ogun State police operatives engaged in extensive surveillance of the creeks surrounding Arepo, gathering crucial information to track down the assailants. Their efforts culminated in a raid on January 23, 2025, at around 06:45 AM. The intelligence-led operation took the police to a creek in the swampy area of Ikorodu where the kidnappers were reportedly planning their next attack.
“Upon arrival, the operatives encountered the kidnappers, who opened fire. In the ensuing confrontation, two of the gunmen were neutralized, while four others fled the scene, abandoning their operational weapons. The victim, Mrs Odumosu was rescued within the swampy creeks during the operation, unharmed. She is currently undergoing medical evaluation as a precautionary measure and has since been reunited with her family. The police also recovered 4 Ak-47 rifles, 3 locally made single barrel rifles, ammunition of various calibers, and the sum of N10,000,000 ransom previously demanded by the kidnappers, further ensuring that justice is served.”
Adejobi stated that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, had commended the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, and his operatives for their displayed gallantry in this successful operation.
He asserted that the operation exemplified the dedication and resilience of police officers.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its mission to combat kidnapping and other violent crimes, providing safety and security to all citizens,” he said.
