Ogun Polytechnic Students Freed After Eight-Day Ordeal

In a daring rescue operation, seven individuals, including five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State, have been freed from the clutches of their abductors. The students were taken from a private hostel along Paraga Road, Ipara-Remo, on July 29, 2026. According to the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, the rescue was carried out in the early hours of August 6, with the support of a police helicopter. Ojajuni revealed that the operation was conducted in two phases, with the first batch of victims being rescued and taken to the hospital for medical attention before being reunited with their families. The second batch of victims, comprising two individuals, was rescued when the police helicopter and ground forces stormed the kidnappers' hideout. Two of the kidnappers have been apprehended and are currently cooperating with the authorities. Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed that one of the victims sustained a gunshot injury during the rescue operation but has since been stabilized. The governor expressed his gratitude to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, for deploying a police helicopter to support the rescue operation. Abiodun warned that Ogun State will not be a safe haven for kidnappers and other criminal elements, emphasizing the importance of credible information from residents to aid the authorities in their efforts to combat crime. 'It was a real operational exercise. No ransom was paid. We rescued five victims in the early hours of today and handed them over to their respective families. Before then, we took them for medical treatment,' Ojajuni said. 'Also in the early hours of today, the helicopter, together with ground forces, stormed the kidnappers’ den and rescued the remaining two victims. We have successfully arrested two of the kidnappers. They are in our custody and are cooperating with investigators. We are still on the trail of the others while the operation continues.' The governor stated, 'Recognising the need to strengthen the operation with additional air support, I reached out to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, on Monday, 3 August 2026, to deploy aerial surveillance to complement the ongoing ground operations.' 'I am glad to report that the IGP responded without delay by approving and deploying a police helicopter the same day. I am standing here this evening pleased to inform the good people of Ogun State that, in the early hours of today, Thursday, 6 August 2026, the combined security operation successfully rescued all seven victims alive. One of the victims sustained a gunshot injury during the operation. He was immediately evacuated for medical attention and has since been stabilised.'