3 hours ago
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Five students of the Gateway Polytechnic, Sapade, Ogun state, have been abducted by armed criminals suspected to be kidnappers.
The students were said to have gone to buy food and were returning to their hostel when the incident happened.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the incident to DAILY POST on Wednesday, stating that the students have been rescued and taken for medical attention due to conditions sustained while in captivity.
He explained that the Ipara division of the command received the distress report at about 10:55 pm on Monday, and immediately a patrol team was deployed to the scene where an ash-coloured Toyota vehicle was discovered abandoned.
Babaseyi disclosed that the vehicle had visible bullet impacts, blood stains, with mobile phones, an identity card belonging to a student of the institution, among other personal belongings recovered from within.
“In line with standard operational procedures, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, psc, FCSS, MNIPR, promptly ordered the deployment of tactical units and directed an intelligence-led rescue operation to safely locate and rescue the victims.
“Acting on this directive, operatives of Isara Area Command, Ipara Division, SWAT, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Quick Response Squad (QRS), and OP MESA were swiftly mobilised and conducted coordinated bush combing and tracking operations along suspected escape routes.
“The sustained operational pressure led to the successful rescue of the five (5) victims from the custody of the abductors on 28th April 2026. The victims were immediately evacuated, debriefed, and taken for medical attention due to conditions sustained while in captivity,” he added.
The PPRO noted that during the rescue operation, the kidnappers engaged operatives in a gun duel but were overpowered, forcing them to flee with suspected gunshot wounds.
Meanwhile, the state commissioner of police, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the professionalism, and swift coordination of all tactical units involved, noting that the intelligence-driven response was decisive to the success of the operation.
He assured that bush combing operations remain ongoing to track, apprehend and bring the fleeing suspects to justice, urging members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements to the nearest police formation.
