Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has commended the Department of State Services, DSS, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps , alongside the State Security Network Agency for the successful rescue of five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, who were abducted earlier in the week in the Remo North Local Government Area of the state.
Two other victims, who are not students of the institution, were also rescued alongside the undergraduates.
According to security sources, the victims regained their freedom in the early hours of Friday following an intelligence-led operation carried out around the Alamala community, off Ayetoro Road Roundabout, in the state capital. Five suspects were arrested in the course of the operation, which is said to be ongoing.
One of the rescued victims, who sustained a gunshot injury during the encounter with the abductors, was said to have been promptly evacuated for medical attention and has since been stabilised.
Describing the rescue as a major breakthrough in the state’s ongoing fight against kidnapping, Governor Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that criminal elements find no safe haven within Ogun’s borders.
“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 stated.
“Our resolve is very clear. Ogun State will remain hostile to criminality and safe for every law-abiding citizen, resident and investor,” he declared.
The governor said the outcome of the operation was a testament to the value of inter-agency synergy, noting that recent joint security initiatives, particularly Operation Kò S’Áyé, have demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence sharing, coordinated deployment and sustained operational pressure against criminal networks operating within and around the state.
Governor Abiodun also extended his commendation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration, he said, has placed the restoration of peace and security at the heart of Nigeria’s development agenda.
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He referenced the recent rescue of 308 abducted victims by Nigerian security forces across various theatres of operation as further evidence of the growing effectiveness of coordinated security responses nationwide.
“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.
“The strengthening of intelligence coordination, the acquisition of modern security assets and his deliberate reforms have continued to deepen inter-agency collaboration.”
The governor further observed that the Federal Government’s recent approval of a substantial salary increase for officers and men of the Armed Forces would go a long way in improving personnel welfare and morale, and by extension, sharpen operational effectiveness across the security architecture.
Credible News recalls that the abduction of the Gateway ICT Polytechnic students earlier in the week triggered widespread outrage among parents, students, civil society groups and residents of Ogun State, with many calling on the state government and security agencies to act swiftly to secure the release of the victims.
The incident came against the backdrop of a resurgence of kidnapping incidents in parts of the South-West, with criminal gangs increasingly targeting students, travellers and rural communities along forest corridors linking Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and neighbouring states. Security analysts have repeatedly warned that the vast forest reserves along the Ogun-Ondo axis have become hideouts for armed groups displaced from other regions by ongoing military operations.
In response to the growing threat, the Ogun State Government, in collaboration with federal security agencies, launched Operation Kò S’Áyé — a Yoruba phrase loosely translating to “there is no hiding place” — as a multi-agency framework designed to dismantle kidnapping cells, disrupt criminal supply chains and secure vulnerable communities and highways across the state.
At the national level, the Tinubu administration has, in recent months, intensified kinetic and non-kinetic operations against banditry, terrorism and kidnapping, with the Armed Forces reporting a series of successful rescue operations, including the freeing of 308 abducted persons in coordinated missions across the North-West and North-Central zones.
Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, one of the state-owned tertiary institutions in Ogun, has since assured students, parents and stakeholders of enhanced security around its campus and host communities, even as academic activities are expected to resume fully in the coming days.
Governor Abiodun urged residents to continue to volunteer credible intelligence to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remains a critical pillar in the ongoing effort to rid the state of violent crime.
Crediblenewsng.com
