ABEOKUTA – Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Thursday declared that there would be no hiding place for kidnappers and other criminal elements in the state following the successful rescue of seven students abducted from Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade.
The governor, who addressed journalists at the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said the students were rescued alive in the early hours of Thursday through a coordinated operation involving the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Ogun State Security Network (Amotekun), vigilantes, local hunters and other security agencies.
Abiodun disclosed that one of the victims sustained a gunshot injury during the abduction but had been evacuated for medical treatment and stabilised.
He explained that the state government immediately activated a joint security operation after receiving reports of the abduction on July 29, with operatives combing the affected communities and adjoining forests in search of the victims.
According to him, the operation was further strengthened after he sought the intervention of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who approved the deployment of a police helicopter to provide aerial surveillance in support of the ground troops.
"I am pleased to inform the good people of Ogun State that in the early hours of today, Thursday, August 6, 2026, the combined security operation successfully rescued all seven victims alive," the governor said.
He added that the rescue operation had not ended, stressing that security agencies were still on the trail of the kidnappers and their collaborators.
"Let me state unequivocally that there will be no hiding place for kidnappers or any other criminals in Ogun State. Whether they are principal offenders, collaborators, informants, logistics providers or sponsors, they will be identified, arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law," he declared.
Abiodun said the state would sustain coordinated security operations to dismantle kidnapping syndicates, destroy criminal hideouts in forests and disrupt their logistics networks.
He noted that recent security initiatives, including Operation Koseye, had strengthened intelligence sharing and collaboration among security agencies in tackling violent crimes.
The governor commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as sustained investments in the nation's security architecture, including improved intelligence coordination, acquisition of modern security assets and enhanced welfare for security personnel.
He also praised the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, the Brigade Commander of the 35 Artillery Brigade, the NSCDC, Amotekun Corps, vigilantes and local hunters for their roles in the rescue operation.
Abiodun urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible information, insisting that security remained a collective responsibility.
He reassured residents, investors and visitors that Ogun State remained safe for living, business and investment, pledging continued investment in intelligence gathering, surveillance technology, operational mobility and logistics for security agencies.
"We thank God for the safe rescue of the victims, but we must not become complacent. Kidnappers, bandits, armed robbers, cultists and every violent criminal must understand that Ogun State is not, and will never become, a sanctuary for criminality," he added.
Speaking shortly after the governor's address, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police disclosed that no ransom was paid for the victims' release.
According to him, security operatives rescued five of the students in the early hours of Thursday and immediately took them to the Police Medical Services for treatment before launching another operation that led to the rescue of the remaining two victims.
"No ransom was paid. We rescued five victims in the early hours of today and referred them to the Police Medical Services. Around the same time, our helicopter and ground forces stormed the kidnappers' den, rescuing the remaining two victims.
"They are currently with us and providing useful information. We remain on the trail of the remaining suspects as the operation continues," the police commissioner said.
He declined to disclose the exact location of the rescue, explaining that security operations were still ongoing in the forest to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
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