By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
The Ogun State Police Command has rescued 5 students of Gateway Polytechnic, Sapade, who were abducted by armed criminals in the state.
The students were rescued following an intelligence-led operation launched after the incident, which occurred on April 27, 2026, at about 10:55 p.m. in the Sapade area.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, the police said a distress call received at Ipara Division led to the discovery of an abandoned ash coloured Toyota vehicle riddled with bullet holes and stained with blood.
According to reports, items recovered from the vehicle, including mobile phones and an identity card belonging to a student of Gateway Polytechnic, confirmed that the victims were students, prompting an immediate large-scale rescue operation.
The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, subsequently ordered the deployment of tactical units and directed a coordinated intelligence-driven effort to locate and rescue the victims.
Operatives from Isara Area Command, Ipara Division, SWAT, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Violent Crime Response Unit, Quick Response Squad, and OP MESA were mobilised for bush combing and tracking operations along suspected escape routes.
However, sustained pressure from the joint teams led to the successful rescue of all 5 victims on April 28, 2026.
During the operation, the kidnappers engaged security operatives in a gun duel but were overpowered, forcing them to flee with suspected gunshot wounds.
The rescued students have since been taken for medical attention and debriefing with no casualties recorded among the operatives.
Ojajuni commended the professionalism and swift response of the operatives, noting that the success of the operation was due to effective intelligence gathering and coordination.
The Command assured that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state.