By our Reporter
Governor, Dapo Abiodun, of Ogun State on Thursday announced the rescue of seven students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, who were abducted by gunmen last week.
Abiodun said two suspected kidnappers had been arrested, while security operatives continued the manhunt for other members of the gang.
The governor disclosed this while addressing journalists at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Thursday.
Abiodun said the students were rescued in separate operations carried out by a joint security team comprising the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes and hunters.
The governor also revealed that one of the rescued students sustained a gunshot injury during the abduction but had been evacuated for medical treatment and stabilised.
Abiodun said the government activated a coordinated security response immediately after the students were reported kidnapped on July 29, adding that additional aerial surveillance was deployed after he requested the intervention of the Inspector-General of Police.
He said, “I am pleased to inform the good people of Ogun State that in the early hours of today, Thursday, August 6, 2026, the combined security operation successfully rescued all seven victims alive.
Five victims were rescued in the first phase of the operation and reunited with their families after receiving medical attention, while the remaining two were rescued during a subsequent operation involving the police helicopter and ground forces.
“One of the victims sustained a gunshot injury during the incident. He was immediately evacuated for medical attention and has since been stabilised.
“I am also pleased to note that, as of this moment, two of the kidnappers have been arrested, while our security agencies remain on the trail of the remaining members of the criminal gang.”
According to the governor, the deployment of the police helicopter significantly strengthened the rescue efforts.
“Recognising the need to strengthen the operation with additional air support, I reached out to the Inspector-General of Police on Monday, August 3, 2026, to deploy aerial surveillance to complement the ongoing ground operations. I am pleased to report that the Inspector-General responded without delay by approving and deploying a police helicopter that same day,” he said.
The governor, however, declined to disclose the exact location where the victims were rescued, explaining that ongoing operations made such disclosure inappropriate.
“This operation is still in progress, and I wish to assure the good people of Ogun State that our security agencies remain on the trail of every individual connected with this criminal enterprise. For operational reasons, certain details, including the exact location of the rescue operation, cannot yet be disclosed,” he said.
He vowed that kidnappers and their collaborators would have no hiding place in the state.
The governor commended President Bola Tinubu for strengthening the country’s security architecture and lauded the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, the NSCDC, Amotekun Corps and other security agencies for their collaborative efforts.
He also appreciated the management of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, parents of the victims, traditional rulers, community leaders and residents for supporting security agencies throughout the rescue operation.
Speaking at the briefing, the state Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, said no ransom was paid to secure the release of the students.
“It was a successful operation. No ransom was paid. We rescued five victims in the early hours of today and reunited them with their respective families. Before handing them over, we took them to the Police Medical Services for medical examination and treatment,” the police commissioner said.
Ojajuni added that the remaining two students were rescued after a coordinated assault involving a police helicopter and ground forces.
“In the early hours of today, a helicopter, working in coordination with ground forces, stormed the kidnappers’ hideout and rescued the remaining two victims. We have also successfully arrested two of the kidnappers. They are currently in our custody and are cooperating with the investigation,” he said.
He explained that the police would not reveal the location of the rescue because security personnel were still conducting operations in the area.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students welcomed the successful rescue of the students, describing it as a major relief for the Nigerian student community.
In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Comrade Oladimeji Uthman, the association commended Abiodun, the Ogun State Police Command and other security agencies for their coordinated response.
The student body praised the professionalism of the Commissioner of Police and described the operation as proof that intelligence-driven policing, inter-agency collaboration and government support could effectively combat criminal activities.
