The operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have successfully rescued five students of Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade, who were reportedly abducted by armed criminals around the community
The spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
Babaseyi explained that “The incident occurred on 27th April 2026 at about 2255hrs, when Ipara division received a distress report of a suspected kidnapping.
“Acting promptly, a patrol team was deployed to the scene where an ash-coloured Toyota vehicle was discovered abandoned. The vehicle was observed with visible bullet impacts and blood stains, while mobile phones and other personal belongings were recovered from within”
He disclosed that further examination of the scene revealed an identity card belonging to a student of Gateway Polytechnic, Sapade, confirming that the occupants of the vehicle were students.
This development was said to have necessitated the immediate escalation of the incident and activation of a full-scale rescue operation.
He stated that in line with standard operational procedures, the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, promptly ordered the deployment of tactical units and directed an intelligence-led rescue operation to safely locate and rescue the victims.
Babaseyi said that “Acting on this directive, operatives of Isara Area Command, Ipara Division, SWAT, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Quick Response Squad (QRS), and OP MESA were swiftly mobilised and conducted coordinated bush combing and tracking operations along suspected escape routes.
“The sustained operational pressure led to the successful rescue of the five (5) victims from the custody of the abductors on 28th April 2026. The victims were immediately evacuated, debriefed, and taken for medical attention due to conditions sustained while in captivity”
During the rescue operation, the kidnappers reportedly engaged the police operatives in a gun duel but were overwhelmed by superior firepower and tactical response, forcing them to flee with suspected gunshot wounds. No casualty was recorded among security operatives.
Meanwhile, the CP, Ojajuni, has hailed the gallantry, professionalism, and swift coordination of all tactical units involved, noting that the intelligence-driven response was decisive to the success of the operation.
He further assures that bush combing operations remain ongoing to track, apprehend and bring the fleeing suspects to justice.
