…rescue made less than 24 hours after NANS issued Ogun govt 72 hours ultimatum
..two suspected kidnappers arrested.
…efforts are on to apprehend other members of the gang – Police
The seven students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, in Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State who were abducted last week Wednesday have regained their freedom without any ransom payment.
Tripod Times reports that Governor Dapo Abiodun made the announcement of the successful rescue on Thursday in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, commending the coordinated efforts of security agencies, local hunters, vigilantes and other stakeholders.
Gov. Abiodun described the successful operation as a significant milestone in the state’s ongoing fight against violent crime, reiterating that his administration would not allow kidnappers or other criminal elements to find refuge in the state.
Recall that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) had issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Ogun State Government to ensure the rescue of abducted students.
Secretary-general of NANS, Oladimeji Uthman, who stated this at a news conference in Abeokuta on Wednesday, also called for the prosecution of those responsible for killing a student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori.
Mr Uthman warned that the association would embark on a statewide protest if its demands were not met within the stipulated 72-hour deadline.
Abiodun on Thursday disclosed that two suspected kidnappers had been arrested, while security operatives had intensified efforts to apprehend other members of the gang.
The governor said, “Our first responsibility as a government is the protection of lives and property. A society can only thrive where people feel safe to live, work, invest and pursue their aspirations. Security remains the foundation upon which sustainable development is built”.
According to him, following reports of the abduction of the students on July 29, the state government immediately activated a multi-agency security response involving the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogun State Security Network Agency (Amotekun), vigilantes, local hunters and other security operatives.
The governor revealed that the operation was further strengthened after he requested the deployment of aerial surveillance from the Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu, on August 3.
“I reached out to the Inspector-General of Police to deploy aerial surveillance to complement the ongoing ground operations. I am pleased that he responded immediately by approving and deploying a police helicopter the same day,” he said.
Abiodun announced that the combined security operation rescued all seven victims alive in the early hours of Thursday. “Five victims were rescued during the first phase of the operation and reunited with their families after receiving medical attention, while the remaining two were rescued in a subsequent operation involving the police helicopter and ground forces. One of the victims sustained a gunshot injury, but was immediately evacuated for medical treatment and has since been stabilised,” he stated.
The students were abducted from a private hostel in the Ipara area on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.
