Police Strengthen Security Along Sagamu-Benin Expressway

Following the distress calls across to the command by commuters over alleged presence of gunmen suspected to be bandits, the Ogun State Police Command on Friday deployed greater numbers of its tactical operatives to strengthen its operational base along the Ogbere – J3 corridor of the Lagos-Sagamu-Benin Expressway.

The deployment of the tactical units of security operatives followed an alleged invasion of the highway by gunmen suspected to be bandits, who were allegedly operating in the Ijebu axis of the expressway on Thursday night which threw travellers on the Lagos-Sagamu-Ijebu Ode-Ore Expressway into panic mood.

While details of the security breach still remained scanty as at press time, LEADERSHIP Weekend however gathered that commuters, who were highly frightened by the development, were forced to abruptly abandon their vehicles and flee to escape any imminent attack.

The fears generated by the development since late Thursday night, also had a spiral effect till the early hours of Friday, resulting in a massive traffic build-up at both sides of the expressway in Ijebu-Ode as motorists refused to proceed on their journey.

Confirming the development, however, a statement released on Friday by the spokesperson of the command (PPRO), Seyi Babaseyi disclosed that police operatives responded swiftly after receiving the distress call on Thursday night.

The PPRO explained that the command immediately activated “a coordinated security operation” so as to track down the suspects.

Babaseyi disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, directed an immediate deployment of four units of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), personnel from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and other tactical teams to the affected area.

He also disclosed that a large-scale bush-combing operation was still underway, with security operatives making significant progress in tracking the fleeing suspects, securing the corridor, and protecting commuters and residents.

Babaseyi stressed that security forces have, “intensified surveillance and dominance of the area to prevent any further threat to public safety.”

He urged motorists and residents to remain calm, insisting that adequate security measures have been put in place to safeguard lives and property.