The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the successful rescue of five abducted students of Gateway Polytechnic, Sapade, following a coordinated, intelligence-led operation.
The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, disclosed this during a press briefing held at the Command Headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta on Tuesday.
According to him, the incident occurred late on April 27, 2026, when officers at the Ipara Division received a distress call about a suspected kidnapping in the Sapade area. A patrol team dispatched to the scene discovered an abandoned ash-coloured Toyota vehicle riddled with bullet holes, with blood stains and personal belongings, including mobile phones, recovered at the scene.
Further investigation led to the discovery of a student identity card belonging to Gateway Polytechnic, confirming that the victims were students of the institution. This prompted the immediate launch of a full-scale rescue operation.
Ojajuni said tactical units, including operatives from Isara Area Command, Ipara Division, SWAT, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Violent Crime Response Unit, Quick Response Squad, and OP MESA, were mobilised for the operation.
On April 28, joint security teams carried out extensive bush-combing and intelligence-driven tracking along suspected escape routes, including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Fidiwo axis in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area.
“The sustained operational pressure led to the successful rescue of the five victims,” the police commissioner said.
He added that the victims were immediately evacuated, given first aid, and later taken to the police hospital in Abeokuta, where they received medical attention. They were reported to be in stable condition.
Ojajuni revealed that the kidnappers engaged security operatives in a gun duel during the operation but were overpowered and forced to flee, likely with gunshot wounds. No casualties were recorded among police personnel.
He assured the public that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and bring them to justice, noting that bush-combing operations were still in progress.
The rescued students have since been handed over to the management of Gateway Polytechnic.
