Five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State, have been abducted by suspected gunmen who invaded a private student hostel along Paraga Road, Ipara-Remo, forcing the institution to suspend its scheduled examinations amid growing security concerns.
The attack occurred at about 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after a final year female student of D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, was killed during an overnight robbery in the Eruku area of Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.
It was gathered that the armed men stormed the off-campus hostel, located in a secluded area surrounded by thick vegetation, where they reportedly operated for about 30 minutes while firing gunshots indiscriminately before whisking away the victims.
Following the incident, the management of Gateway ICT Polytechnic announced the suspension of examinations slated for Thursday.
A notice issued by the institution read, “Following the unfortunate incident that occurred yesterday, today’s examination has been cancelled. However, tomorrow’s examination remains scheduled as planned. If there is any change regarding tomorrow’s examination, an official announcement will be communicated promptly.”
The management added, “For now, all students are encouraged to remain calm, stay positive, and continue preparing for their examinations. We are hopeful that the situation will be resolved soon.”
Confirming the incident, the Students’ Union Government said five students were abducted during the attack.
In a statement jointly signed by the SUG President, Akinpelu Bukunmi Timothy, General Secretary, Salau Boluwaduro Saidat, and Public Relations Officer, Matthew Francis Sonayon, the union described the hostel as being in an unsafe location.
The statement read, “At approximately 7:45 p.m., suspected armed bandits attacked a private student hostel located along Paraga Road, Ipara. The hostel is situated in a remote area surrounded by thick bush, making it vulnerable and unsuitable as a safe residential environment for students.”
It added, “The attack lasted for approximately 30 minutes. Due to the isolated location of the hostel, residents in surrounding areas were unable to hear or respond to the incident in time. During the attack, the assailants fired gunshots; however, no student lost their life.”
According to the union, “By the grace of God, several students escaped through the POP ceiling, while others were unable to flee. We can confirm that five students were abducted during the incident. The matter has officially been reported to the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies, and we are confident that immediate efforts are underway to ensure the safe rescue of the affected students.”
The SUG urged students, parents and members of the public to disregard unverified reports circulating on social media.
“While the incident is real and deeply unfortunate, many of the stories currently in circulation do not accurately represent the facts and only serve to create unnecessary fear and panic within the school community,” the statement added.
The Ogun State Police Command also confirmed the incident, saying tactical teams had been deployed to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said, “The Ogun State Police Command is aware of the abduction incident reported at a private hostel in the Ipara area on the night of Wednesday, July 29, 2026.”
He added, “Immediately the distress report was received, the Command activated a coordinated operational response, deploying tactical teams and intelligence assets to the area. Bush-combing and other targeted operations are ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the apprehension of those responsible.”
Babaseyi noted that the actual number of abducted persons was still being verified.
“The exact number of victims is yet to be ascertained, as verification and investigation are still in progress,” he said, urging the public to refrain from spreading unverified information capable of undermining ongoing security operations.
