(the victims. Photo credit: Daily post)
Following their rescue from kidnappers, five students from Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State, described their experiences.
According to the DAILY POST, a straightforward journey for groceries turned into a horrific kidnapping of the five pupils.
The Isara-Ode road is where they were abducted.
They saw last Tuesday as more than just a day of liberty.
The freed boys, who were relieved but clearly shaken, told DAILY POST about their experience, describing the time between their kidnapping in the state’s Remo North local government area and their final return to safety.
Torchlight-wielding gunmen stationed on a bridge flagged down four male and one female student driving an ash-colored Toyota.
According to the DAILY POST, it occurred just 48 hours after suspected gunmen attacked students at the College of Engineering, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ibogun campus.
The twelve gunmen allegedly broke into the students’ homes, took their phones, jewelry, belongings, and even drinks, and left them hurt.
The victims described how they were abducted, claiming that the abductors used the lights to trick them into stopping before taking possession of the car and its occupants.
According to information obtained by DAILY POST, the victims were forced to walk for three hours through dense jungle before they could sit and demand a ransom from their loved ones.
The kidnappers demanded a ransom of 20 million naira each, according to Taye (not his real name), who called the event shocking.
“They stopped and attacked us as we were leaving the restaurant. All I could recall was a gunshot after they pretended to be police officers and flashed torchlights to get us to halt the car.
“At one point, they pointed the gun at us and threatened to kill us if we couldn’t pay a N20 million ransom,” he said in a low voice.
The victims were familiar with the area and weren’t strangers.
The youngsters claimed that the people who kidnapped them were familiar with the Remo North area.
One of the victims identified the kidnappers as Fulani males who seemed to have a thorough understanding of the local society.
He revealed that when they named them “Fulani,” there was a near-fatal altercation during a tense moment in the jungle.
“The kidnappers are Fulani who are familiar with the entire area and community.”
He emphasized, “We knew they were Fulani because one of us even tried to call them Fulani and they got so angry that they pointed the gun at him.”
The driver and owner of the car was wounded in the leg and demanded N40 million in ransom, while three of the students were requested to pay N20 million, according to a second victim who spoke to DAILY POST.
Recall that DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the police spokesperson, said that after getting the information, command personnel sent a patrol squad to the location where their car was discovered abandoned with obvious bullet damage and bloodstains.
The victims were safely rescued penultimate Tuesday thanks to the prompt mobilization of officers from Isara Area Command, Ipara Division, SWAT, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Quick Response Squad (QRS), and OP MESA, Babaseyi continued.
Shortly after delivering the rescued pupils to the school, State Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni told reporters that the agents had engaged the kidnappers in a gunfight.
The Commissioner stated, “On April 28, 2026, the five (5) victims were successfully freed from the abductors’ custody due to persistent operational pressure.” Due to conditions they had suffered while in captivity, the victims were promptly removed, debriefed, and sent for medical care.
“The kidnappers engaged in a gunfight with the rescue team during the operation, but they were overpowered by superior firepower and tactical response, causing them to leave with suspected gunshot wounds. There were no security personnel casualties reported.
Police tell schools to cooperate with us.
The police chief gave assurances that the command had implemented all necessary safety precautions to safeguard all state employees and students.
Nonetheless, he urged institutions and the command to work together, promising them a prompt reaction to any emergency or distress call.
“I’m taking this opportunity to reassure the administration of all Ogun State schools and institutions that the police will do everything within their power to protect these establishments and their pupils.
In order for us to promptly respond to any emergency or distress call that may arise from their end, we are also urging them to be in continual communication with the local police officers, myself, the Commissioner of Police, or any other senior officer in the command.
Like the OOU, we found that the police station is simply too far from the campus, therefore I set up a police post there right away to handle their urgent security demands.
“We are establishing additional safeguards for pupils and are in communication with all school administrations throughout the state.
“To ensure that we have secured campuses and secured students, we appeal to the school administration and students to cooperate with us and see us as partners in progress and collaborator,” Ojajuni continued.
He cautioned the state’s offenders to either alter their behavior or be prepared to face the wrath of the law.
He cautioned, “It is up to them to change their mind and be law-abiding or the long arm of the law will catch up with them in a jiffy, not even in the long run.”
SUG and school administration commend the police action
The Deputy Rector, Mr. Taiwo Ogunyinka, delivered an appreciation letter to the CP on behalf of the institution’s governing council, thanking them for their courage and prompt actions that resulted in the students’ rescue.
In order to guarantee the safety and protection of students and other management personnel, he promised that the institution will continue to support the command.
Meanwhile, the SUG president of the institution, Comrade Akinpelu Timothy, thanked the Commissioner of Police for his quick response, adding that it had assured students that their lives were in good hands.
