Operatives of the Nigeria police Command in Ogun State have rescued five students of Gateway Polytechnic, Sapade, who were recently abducted by armed criminals in the Sapade area of the State.
The incident occurred on 27th April 2026 at about 2255hrs, when Ipara division received a distress report of a suspected kidnapping.
The Command’ spokesman, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi who confirmed the intelligence-led rescue operation on Wednesday in a statement, said, “Acting promptly, a patrol team was deployed to the scene where an ash-coloured Toyota vehicle was discovered abandoned”.
The vehicle was observed with visible bullet impacts and blood stains, while mobile phones and other personal belongings were recovered from within, according to him.
He revealed that further examination of the scene revealed an identity card belonging to a student of Gateway Polytechnic, Sapade, confirming that the occupants of the vehicle were students.
The development necessitated, according to the statement, led to immediate escalation of the incident and activation of a full-scale rescue operation.
The statement said, operatives of Isara Area Command, Ipara Division, SWAT, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Quick Response Squad (QRS), and OP MESA were swiftly mobilised and conducted coordinated bush combing and tracking operations along suspected escape routes after the incident.
It explained in the statement that sustained operational pressure led to the successful rescue of the five hostages from the custody of the abductors on April 28.
Afterwards, the hostages were immediately evacuated, debriefed, and taken for medical attention due to conditions sustained while in captivity.
“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 casualty was recorded among security operatives”, the statement added.
