Eight students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade (GAPOSA) in Ogun State were abducted on Wednesday night when armed kidnappers stormed their residence in Ipara, Remi North Local Government Area. The attack, which occurred around 9 pm, prompted the polytechnic to cancel all computer-based and written examinations scheduled for Thursday.
Attack Details
A fellow student, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the assailants forcibly took eight students during the raid. The student residence in Ipara was targeted, and the incident has caused widespread tension among the school community.
Immediate Response: Exams Cancelled
The institution’s management quickly responded by issuing a notice cancelling all exams for Thursday. The notice 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 exam, an official announcement will be communicated promptly.” It further urged students to remain calm: “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. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”
Police Deployment
DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Ogun State Command, confirmed that officers had received reports of an abduction in the Ipara area. He stated that personnel from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Violent Crime Response Unit, and other tactical teams had been deployed to the area immediately after the incident was reported. The police are actively searching for the victims and the kidnappers.
The polytechnic's Public Relations Officer was contacted for a response but had not commented by the time of this report. The Ogun State Police Command continues to monitor the situation and has urged residents to provide any useful information.
