Police Rescue 5 Gateway Polytechnic Students After Gun Battle With Kidnappers

Police Rescue 5 Gateway Polytechnic Students After Gun Battle With Kidnappers

Five students of Gateway Polytechnic, Sapade, Ogun State, who were abducted by suspected kidnappers, have been rescued by operatives of the Ogun State Police Command after an intense intelligence-led operation involving multiple tactical units.

The students were reportedly kidnapped late on Monday, April 27, 2026, around the Sapade area in Remo North Local Government Area, throwing the institution and surrounding communities into panic.

According to the Ogun State Police Command, the incident was first reported at about 10:55 p.m. when officers at the Ipara Division received a distress call about a suspected abduction.

Police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that a patrol team immediately moved to the scene where they discovered an abandoned ash-coloured Toyota vehicle riddled with bullet holes and stained with blood.

“The vehicle was observed with visible bullet impacts and blood stains, while mobile phones and other personal belongings were recovered from within,” Babaseyi said.

Further checks by operatives reportedly revealed an identity card belonging to a student of Gateway Polytechnic, confirming that the occupants of the vehicle were students of the institution.

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The discovery prompted the immediate activation of a large-scale rescue mission ordered by the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni.

According to the police, the rescue operation involved operatives from the Isara Area Command, Ipara Division, SWAT, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Quick Response Squad (QRS), and OP MESA.

Security teams subsequently launched coordinated bush-combing operations and tracking exercises across suspected escape routes used by the abductors.

Police authorities said the sustained pressure mounted by the operatives forced the kidnappers into a confrontation with security personnel during the rescue effort.

“During the rescue operation, the kidnappers engaged operatives in a gun duel but were overwhelmed by superior firepower and tactical response, forcing them to flee with suspected gunshot wounds,” Babaseyi stated.

The five students were eventually rescued on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, less than 24 hours after the abduction.

Authorities confirmed that the victims were immediately evacuated from the forest, debriefed, and taken for medical attention due to the physical and psychological conditions they suffered while in captivity.

Police also confirmed that no casualty was recorded among security operatives involved in the operation.

The Ogun State Police Command has since intensified bush-combing and manhunt operations to track down the fleeing suspects, with authorities expressing confidence that arrests will soon be made.

Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni commended the tactical teams involved in the operation, describing the rescue as a result of swift coordination, intelligence gathering, and rapid deployment.

The incident has once again highlighted growing concerns over kidnapping and insecurity affecting students and commuters across parts of Nigeria, particularly along highways and semi-rural communities.

Residents around Sapade and neighbouring communities have called for increased security patrols and surveillance around schools and major roads to prevent future attacks.

The police meanwhile urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue sharing credible information that could assist security agencies in tracking criminal groups operating within the state. (Royal News)

Police Rescue 5 Gateway Polytechnic Students After Gun Battle With Kidnappers