Five students from Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade, who were allegedly kidnapped by armed thugs in the neighborhood, were safely freed by Ogun State Police Command personnel.
DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the state police command’s spokesperson, revealed this in a statement on Wednesday.
According to Babaseyi, “Ipara division received a distress report of a suspected kidnapping on April 27, 2026, at approximately 2255 hours.”
“A police squad was sent to the location as soon as an abandoned Toyota car with an ash color was found. Cell phones and other personal items were found inside the car, which had obvious bullet damage and bloodstains.
He claimed that additional investigation at the location turned up an identity card belonging to a Gateway Polytechnic, Sapade student, proving the car’s passengers were students.
According to reports, this development required the crisis to be immediately escalated and a full-scale rescue effort to be launched.
He said that the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, immediately ordered the deployment of tactical units and oversaw an intelligence-led rescue operation to securely identify and rescue the victims in accordance with regular operating procedures.
“Operatives of Isara Area Command, Ipara Division, SWAT, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Quick Response Squad (QRS), and OP MESA were promptly mobilized and conducted coordinated bush combing and other operations in response to this directive,” stated Babaseyi.
On April 28, 2026, the five (5) victims were successfully freed from the abductors’ custody thanks to persistent operational pressure. Due to conditions they had suffered while in captivity, the victims were promptly evacuated, debriefed, and sent for medical care.
The kidnappers allegedly engaged the police officers in a gunfight during the rescue operation, but they were overpowered by superior firepower and tactical response, forcing them to escape with possible gunshot wounds. There were no security personnel casualties reported.
The CP, Ojajuni, has praised the bravery, expertise, and quick coordination of all tactical units engaged, pointing out that the operation’s success was largely dependent on the intelligence-driven response.
Additionally, he guarantees that bush combing operations will continue to track, capture, and bring the fleeing suspects to justice.
