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๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Gunmen abduct poly students in Ogun

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Gunmen abducted five students from a private hostel at Gateway ICT Polytechnic in Ogun State, Nigeria, on Wednesday night.
  • The attack prompted the polytechnic to suspend examinations scheduled for Thursday.
  • Police and other security agencies have launched a rescue operation to secure the students' release.

Five students from Gateway ICT Polytechnic in Saapade, Ogun State, were abducted by suspected gunmen after an attack on a private hostel in Ipara-Remo. The incident occurred Wednesday night, leading the institution to suspend Thursday's examinations.

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. By the grace of God, several students escaped through the POP ceiling, while others were unable to flee.

โ€” Students' Union GovernmentDescription of the attack and student escape from the attacked hostel.

The attackers reportedly invaded a private student hostel along Paraga Road, operating for about 30 minutes while firing gunshots. While some students claimed more individuals were taken, the Students' Union Government confirmed five students were abducted. The institution's SUG described the attacked hostel as vulnerable due to its remote location, surrounded by thick bush.

"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," the SUG statement read. "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 been officially 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.

โ€” Students' Union GovernmentConfirmation of the number of abducted students and reporting to authorities.

Following the abduction, the polytechnic management announced the postponement of Thursday's examination. The Ogun State Police Command confirmed the incident and stated that a coordinated rescue operation with other security agencies is underway to ensure the safe release of the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.

However, tomorrowโ€™s examination remains scheduled as planned. If there is any change regarding tomorrowโ€™s examination, an official announcement will be communicated promptly. 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.

โ€” Polytechnic ManagementNotice regarding the examination schedule following the incident.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.