The Ogun State Police Command has arrested two suspected kidnappers and rescued seven students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade (GAPOSA), eight days after they were abducted from a private hostel in Ipara-Remo.
Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, announced the breakthrough on Thursday, saying the victims were rescued during a coordinated operation involving ground troops and aerial surveillance, with no ransom paid.
“It was an operational affair. No ransom was paid. We rescued five in the early hours of today and handed them over to their respective families after medical treatment. The helicopter and the ground forces later stormed the kidnappers’ hideout and rescued the remaining two victims,” Ojajuni said.
He added that the two arrested suspects were in police custody and assisting investigators, while security operatives had intensified efforts to track down other members of the kidnapping syndicate.
Speaking after the rescue, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun commended the combined efforts of the police, military and other security agencies, describing the operation as a testament to effective inter-agency collaboration.
According to the governor, the deployment of a police helicopter, approved by the Inspector General of Police, strengthened the search-and-rescue operation and contributed to the successful recovery of the students.
Abiodun disclosed that one of the rescued students sustained a gunshot injury during the abduction but was immediately taken for medical attention and has since been stabilised.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to combating kidnapping and other violent crimes, warning that Ogun State would not serve as a safe haven for criminal elements.
The students were kidnapped on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, when armed men invaded a private hostel along Paraga Road in Ipara-Remo, a community adjoining the institution. The attack, which reportedly lasted about 30 minutes, triggered widespread concern among parents, students and residents, prompting an intensive search operation by security agencies.
