…Dismisses social media misinformation

The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State, has confirmed that five students were abducted during an attack by suspected armed bandits on a private off-campus hostel on Wednesday night.

In a statement issued yesterday, the union also urged members of the public to disregard what it described as “false, exaggerated and unverified” reports circulating on social media about the incident.

According to the SUG, the attack occurred at about 7:45 p.m. at a private student hostel located along Paraga Road in Ipara, outside the institution’s campus.

The union said the hostel, situated in a remote area surrounded by thick vegetation, was vulnerable to security threats because of its isolated location.

It stated that the assailants reportedly operated for about 30 minutes, during which gunshots were fired. The SUG, however, said no student was killed in the attack, adding that several occupants escaped through the building’s POP ceiling while others were unable to flee.

“We can confirm that five students were abducted during the incident,” the statement read.

The students’ bodies added that the incident had been reported to the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies, expressing confidence that efforts were ongoing to secure the safe rescue of the abducted students.

While describing the incident as “deeply unfortunate,” the SUG cautioned against the spread of unverified information capable of causing panic within the institution and the wider community.

It appealed to students, parents, and guardians to rely on official updates from the institution, the Students’ Union Government, and security agencies, rather than unconfirmed reports on social media.

The union also advised students seeking off-campus accommodation to patronise hostels located in secure and well-populated areas while avoiding isolated residences that could expose them to security risks.

Reaffirming its support for the affected students and their families, the SUG said it would continue to work with the institution’s management and security agencies until the abducted students were safely reunited with their loved ones.