Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have successfully rescued five students of Gateway Polytechnic who were abducted by armed criminals in the Sapade area of Ogun State.
The incident occurred on April 27, 2026, at about 10:55 p.m., when the Ipara Division received a distress call reporting a suspected kidnapping. A patrol team dispatched to the scene discovered an ash-coloured Toyota vehicle abandoned with visible bullet holes and blood stains. Mobile phones and other personal belongings were also recovered from the vehicle.
Further examination led to the recovery of an identity card belonging to a student of Gateway Polytechnic, confirming that the victims were students of the institution. This prompted an immediate escalation and the launch of a full-scale rescue operation.
The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, subsequently ordered the deployment of tactical units and directed an intelligence-led operation to secure the victims’ release.
Teams drawn from the Isara Area Command, Ipara Division, SWAT, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Quick Response Squad (QRS), and OP MESA were mobilised and engaged in coordinated bush-combing and tracking operations along suspected escape routes.
The sustained pressure from the operatives led to the successful rescue of the five victims on April 28, 2026. The victims were evacuated, debriefed, and taken for medical attention due to the conditions endured while in captivity.
During the operation, the kidnappers engaged security operatives in a gun battle but were overpowered by superior firepower, forcing them to flee with suspected gunshot injuries. No casualties were recorded among the police team.
The Commissioner of Police commended the professionalism and swift coordination of the operatives, noting that the intelligence-driven approach was crucial to the success of the mission. He added that ongoing bush-combing operations are aimed at apprehending the fleeing suspects and bringing them to justice.
Residents were urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency lines.
