The Ogun State Police Command has launched a manhunt for terrorists who abducted an unspecified number of persons suspected to be students from a private hostel in the Ipara area of Ogun State, with tactical teams and intelligence operatives intensifying rescue efforts.
Chronicle NG gathered on Thursday that the attack, which occurred on Wednesday night, targeted a private student hostel located along Paraga Road, Ipara, where students of the Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Sapaade, reside off campus.
The kidnap was said to have sparked panic among students and residents, with conflicting reports circulating on social media over the number of victims allegedly abducted.
In response to the event on Thursday, the institution’s Students’ Union Government, through its president, Timothy Akinpelu, and public relations officer, Francis Mathew, confirmed that the attack did not take place on the polytechnic campus.
The union stated that the shooters entered the private hostel at around 7:45 p.m., noting that the facility is located in a remote area, making it impossible for surrounding neighbours to respond quickly.
According to the SUG, the attackers fired multiple rounds throughout the operation, but no students were killed.
The union also stated that several people were abducted during the raid but noted that the number of casualties was unknown.
“Although there were victims of abduction during the incident, we wish to clarify that the number of abducted persons currently being circulated is unverified and should not be regarded as official,” the statement read.
The SUG stated that the matter has been reported to the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies and that efforts to rescue the victims are ongoing.
The students’ body urged parents, guardians, and members of the public to disregard false and exaggerated reports that could cause panic in the school community.
“While the abduction 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 union stated.
It also urged students looking for housing to stay in hostels in safe and populated regions, rather than secluded areas prone to criminal activity.
Confirming the event, the Ogun State Police Command stated that it began coordinated rescue operations immediately after getting a distress complaint from the scene.
Babaseyi Oluseyi, the police public relations officer, responded on Thursday, saying tactical units and intelligence assets had been deployed while bush-combing operations were underway to locate the abductors.
“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.
“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,” Oluseyi stated.
He also stated that the precise number of abducted individuals had still to be determined because verification and investigations were still underway.
Attempts to contact the polytechnic’s public relations officer, Folorunso Adedayo, were fruitless, since her phone number was unavailable at the time of publishing this report.
In April, the Ogun State Police Command operatives rescued five students from an institution who had been abducted by armed criminals in the state’s Sapade region.
Oluseyi stated that the incident occurred on April 27, 2026, at approximately 10:55 p.m., causing police to visit the area.
