…as Abiodun declares no safe haven for kidnappers in Ogun

Two suspects were yesterday arrested as coordinated security operatives rescue abducted seven students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic( GAPOSA), Ogun State.

The students, who were abducted last Wednesday at their hotel, in Ipara-Remo about 8:pm, regained freedom and were successful handed over to their various families by Ogun State Government.

The rescue operation followed a three day ultimatum issued by the Ogun State Charpter of National Association of Nigeria Students(NANS) to the state government to ensure the speedy rescue of the abducted students or face a statewide protest.

Governor Dapo Abiodun, while addressing newsmen yesterday at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, said that all security agencies were deployed to the affected corridors and surrounding forests of the abducted venue to secure the rescue of the students.

They include: The Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Ogun State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps), local vigilantes and hunters.

Abiodun assured that one of the victims shot during the attack was immediately taken to the hospital and is currently responding to treatment, said that the state would not be a safe haven for kidnappers or criminals to perpetrate crimes.

He noted that efforts to arrest the perpetrators linked to the incident are still underway, stressing that security matters should be a collective of everyone in state, while urging members of the public not to withhold reliable information that could assist in arresting other suspects.

“Recognizing the need to strengthen the operation with additional air support, I reached out to the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, on Monday, 3 August 2026, to deploy aerial surveillance to complement the ongoing ground operations.”

“I am glad to report that the IG responded without delay by approving and deploying a police helicopter the same day. I am standing here this evening pleased to inform the good people of Ogun State that, in the early hours of today, Thursday, 6 August 2026, the combined security operation successfully rescued all seven victims alive.”

“One of the victims sustained a gunshot injury during the incident, and he was immediately evacuated for medical attention and has since been stabilised.” The Governor said.

Speaking, State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, said that no ransom was paid to rescue the victims, stressing that the rescue was achieved solely through the coordinated efforts of security operatives.

Ojajuni noted that two suspects of the Kidnap gang had been arrested and were already providing useful information to investigators, while security agencies had intensified manhunt for other fleeing members.

“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. We reunited them, but before then, we took them for medical treatment.

“In the early hours too, the helicopter and the ground forces stormed the kidnappers’ den and rescued the remaining two victims. We have successfully arrested two of the kidnappers as we speak. They are with us and are talking, while we are still on the trail of the others as the operation continues.” he added.