Summary: Five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, and two others have finally regained their freedom after spending eight terrifying days in the hands of suspected kidnappers in Ogun State.
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In a development that will bring relief to families, friends, and the entire academic community in Ogun State, seven kidnap victims — including five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade (GAPOSA) — have finally regained their freedom after spending eight agonising days in captivity.
The victims were abducted by suspected kidnappers in what has become yet another troubling reminder of the security challenges facing communities across Nigeria, particularly in the Southwest region.
A Nightmare That Lasted Eight Days
For the families of these young students, the past eight days must have felt like an eternity. Every passing hour without word of their loved ones’ safety would have been a fresh wave of anxiety — the kind of helpless dread that no Nigerian family should ever have to experience.
The abduction of students is particularly disturbing because it strikes at the very heart of Nigeria’s future. These are young men and women who woke up one day simply trying to pursue their education and better their lives — only to find themselves at the mercy of criminals.
Seven Victims, One Collective Ordeal
Among the seven victims freed were the five GAPOSA students, alongside two other individuals who were abducted alongside them. While full details of the circumstances surrounding their release are still emerging, the news of their freedom has been widely welcomed.
Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, located in Ogun State, is one of the state’s notable institutions of higher learning, and the safety of its student population is of paramount importance to the institution, the state government, and Nigerian society at large.
Security Concerns in the Southwest
This incident once again shines a spotlight on the growing menace of kidnapping in Nigeria’s Southwest geopolitical zone. Ogun State, which shares borders with Lagos — Nigeria’s commercial capital — has in recent times recorded a worrying uptick in kidnapping incidents, particularly along forested routes and rural communities.
Nigerians across the country have continued to call on security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the newly established state-level security outfits like the Ogun State Security Network Agency (also known as Amotekun), to intensify efforts at tackling kidnappers and other criminal elements terrorising innocent citizens.
A Sigh of Relief — But Questions Remain
While the release of these seven victims is certainly something to be grateful for, it raises important questions that cannot be swept under the carpet:
– How were they released? Were ransoms paid, or did security forces secure their freedom through operational efforts?
– Are the perpetrators in custody? Justice must be served to deter future abductions.
– What is being done to make our roads and communities safer?
Until these questions are fully addressed, Nigerians — especially students and young people — will continue to live under the shadow of fear.
Our Students Deserve Better
Education is supposed to be a passport to a better future. No student should have to fear for their life simply because they chose to attend a polytechnic or university. The Nigerian government at all levels — federal, state, and local — must redouble efforts to secure lives and property across the country.
To the freed students and other victims: welcome back. Your ordeal is over, and Nigeria rejoices with you and your families. May you find healing, strength, and the courage to continue pursuing your dreams.
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