The Ogun State Police Command says its operatives have rescued five students of Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade, who were abducted by armed men in the Saapade area of the state.
According to a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, the incident occurred on Monday, April 27, 2026, at about 10:55 p.m., when officers at the Ipara Division received a distress call about a suspected kidnapping.
He said a patrol team was immediately deployed to the scene, where an ash-coloured Toyota vehicle was discovered abandoned.
“The vehicle had visible bullet holes and blood stains, while mobile phones and other personal belongings were recovered,” Babaseyi stated.
He added that the discovery of a student identity card inside the vehicle confirmed that the occupants were students of the institution, prompting the immediate escalation of the incident and the launch of a full-scale rescue operation.
Following the development, the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, ordered the deployment of tactical teams and directed an intelligence-led operation to track and rescue the victims.
The command said operatives from the Isara Area Command, Ipara Division, SWAT, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Violent Crime Response Unit, Quick Response Squad, and OP MESA were mobilised for coordinated bush-combing and tracking operations along suspected escape routes.
According to the police, sustained pressure led to the successful rescue of all five victims on April 28, 2026.
“The victims were immediately evacuated, debriefed, and taken for medical attention due to the conditions they experienced while in captivity,” the statement added.
Babaseyi also disclosed that during the operation, the kidnappers engaged security operatives in a gun duel but were overpowered by superior firepower, forcing them to flee with suspected gunshot wounds.
He confirmed that no casualties were recorded among security personnel.
