A female Man O'War officer, Dasola Sanusi, was killed in an ambush by suspected kidnappers on the Ibadan–Ago-Iwoye Expressway on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at about 6:30 pm. The attack occurred shortly after the officers passed the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) area while returning from an outing in Ibadan. Armed men opened fire indiscriminately on vehicles, including the officers' vehicle, leading to a shootout. Despite sustaining gunshot wounds, the officers managed to escape the attack zone and were taken to a hospital in Ago-Iwoye. Sanusi was confirmed dead on arrival, while another officer, Emmanuel, remained hospitalized with gunshot injuries. Two other female officers were admitted for trauma. The Man O'War national spokesperson, Ibrahim Bello, confirmed Sanusi's death and stated the organisation was investigating the incident. Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the ambush and said operatives responded swiftly, preventing any kidnappings. He noted that one victim later died from injuries, and some injured persons were taken to a hospital in Ogun State. Ayanlade said he could not confirm details about casualties in Ogun State due to limited information from that jurisdiction.
The Man O'War officers were ambushed on a major expressway despite being security volunteers meant to enhance safety, raising questions about their operational risks. Dasola Sanusi died en route to a hospital in Ago-Iwoye, while others were moved to Ogun State, exposing gaps in coordinated emergency response. The police spokesperson's inability to confirm casualty details across state lines reveals fractured inter-state information sharing. Nigerians on this route remain vulnerable as armed attacks persist with no clear accountability.
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