A Captain, who was a part of the Joint Task Force set up to battle militants in Lagos and Gun States, Operation Awatse, was among the seven soldiers and policemen killed by militants who stormed Ikorodu in Lagos State on Saturday night.
A Divisional Police Officer for Ikorodu was also said to have been critically injured and was rushed to the hospital.
Sources told this magazine that the militants laid an ambush for the soldiers and policemen, who were on their trail, and opened fire on them as they approached.
It was gathered that the militants had kidnapped someone in Owutu area of Ikorodu.
On getting the distress call of the kidnap, the team, operating in one of the vehicles of the Lagos State security outfit, the Rapid Response Squad, went after the kidnappers.
Obviously sensing that they would be trailed, the kidnappers laid an ambush for the security team and opened fire on them.
Five policemen and two soldiers were killed on the spot.
The DPO was lucky to have survived but is in critical condition, we learnt.
The patrol vehicle was also set ablaze by the militants.
