Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has commended the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies for the successful rescue of five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, who were abducted earlier this week.
The students regained their freedom in the early hours of Friday during an intelligence-led operation around the Alamala community, off Ayetoro Road Roundabout in Abeokuta. Two other kidnapped victims, who were not students, were also rescued during the operation.
Five suspected kidnappers were arrested, while security operatives continued efforts to apprehend other members of the criminal gang.
Abiodun described the operation as a major breakthrough in the state’s fight against kidnapping, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to ensuring that kidnappers and other criminal elements have no safe haven in Ogun State.
He said the operation, which involved the DSS, the Nigerian Army, the Police, the NSCDC, the Ogun State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes and hunters, demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence sharing and inter-agency collaboration.
“This operation is still ongoing, and I wish to assure the good people of Ogun State that our security agencies remain on the trail of every individual connected with this criminal enterprise,” the governor said.
He added, “Our resolve is very clear. Ogun State will remain hostile to criminality and safe for every law-abiding citizen, resident and investor.”
Abiodun noted that recent joint security operations, particularly Operation Kò S’Áyé, had yielded positive results through improved intelligence gathering, coordinated operations and sustained pressure on criminal elements.
The governor also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising the fight against banditry, terrorism and kidnapping across the country, saying recent successes recorded by security agencies reflected the growing effectiveness of coordinated national security operations.
“At this juncture, I must acknowledge the purposeful leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration has placed the restoration of peace and security at the centre of Nigeria’s development agenda through sustained investment in the operational capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies,” he said.
According to him, the strengthening of intelligence coordination, acquisition of modern security assets and ongoing security reforms had continued to deepen collaboration among security agencies.
Abiodun further noted that the Federal Government’s continued investment in the country’s security architecture, including the recent approval of a substantial salary increase for officers and personnel of the Armed Forces, would further improve the welfare and morale of security operatives.
Meanwhile, a security source disclosed that one of the rescued students sustained a gunshot injury during the operation and was immediately evacuated for medical treatment.
“One of the kidnapped victims sustained a gunshot injury during the operation and was immediately evacuated for medical attention. The victim has since been stabilised,” the source said.
Security agencies have continued operations to track down other suspects linked to the abduction as investigations into the incident continue.
