Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have successfully rescued five students of Gateway Polytechnic, Sapade, who were abducted by armed criminals in the Sapade area of Ogun State. The incident occurred on April 27, 2026, at approximately 2255 hours, when the Ipara division received a distress report of a suspected kidnapping.
Rescue Operation Details
Confirming the rescue, the spokesperson of the command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, stated that a patrol team was promptly deployed to the scene, where an ash-colored Toyota vehicle was discovered abandoned. The vehicle had visible bullet impacts and blood stains, and mobile phones along with other personal belongings were recovered from inside.
Further examination revealed an identity card belonging to a student of Gateway Polytechnic, Sapade, confirming that the vehicle's occupants were students. This development necessitated immediate escalation and activation of a full-scale rescue operation. In line with standard operational procedures, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, promptly ordered the deployment of tactical units and directed an intelligence-led rescue operation to safely locate and rescue the victims.
Tactical Response
Babaseyi said that acting on this directive, operatives from the Isara Area Command, Ipara Division, SWAT, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Quick Response Squad (QRS), and OP MESA were swiftly mobilized. They conducted coordinated bush combing and tracking operations along suspected escape routes.
The sustained operational pressure led to the successful rescue of the five victims from the custody of the abductors on Tuesday, April 28. The victims were immediately evacuated, debriefed, and taken for medical attention due to conditions sustained while in captivity.
Engagement with Kidnappers
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. No casualties were recorded among security operatives.
Babaseyi urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements to the nearest police formation or through the command's emergency lines: Gateway Shield (Toll-Free): 0800 000 9111; 0906 283 7609; 0912 014 1706; 0915 102 7369; and 0708 497 2994.
