Gateway ICT Polytechnic

Gateway ICT Polytechnic Main Gate

Students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, in Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Friday called for a robust security architecture across their host communities to tackle recurring security breaches.

The students said criminals were exploiting the poor security situation in their host communities to attack them.

Their concern came on the heels of the abduction of five of their colleagues, who were reportedly kidnapped by gunmen on Wednesday night at a private hostel in Ipara Remo.

Our correspondent visited the polytechnic on Friday and observed that only a few students were on campus, as most had stayed away from the school since the ongoing second semester examinations scheduled for Thursday and Friday had earlier been suspended by the management.

A Renewable Energy student who identified himself simply as Samuel said the lack of a visible security presence was helping criminals who preyed on students to operate freely.

Speaking with our correspondent during the visit, the National Diploma II student said, “The challenge we are having is that the security of this area is porous. We were shocked to hear that some of our colleagues were abducted and this has been happening for quite some time.

“Sometimes ago, some students were abducted around the Saapade Bridge but were later released. About a month ago, a popular TikToker called Aduni Vibes was also abducted. That was how they stole my brother’s 58-inch television and PS5 PlayStation.

“So, we have always been contending with this challenge. We call on Governor Dapo Abiodun to please help us. We need regular police patrols. We don’t even mind if they bring soldiers as long as they will not intimidate us. We urgently beg the government and security agencies to please help bring back our colleagues.”

Another ND II Mass Communication student, who also spoke with our correspondent, said the majority of the students now lived in fear because they were unsure who would be the next victim of the marauders.

Sam, as he identified himself, said, “We are all sleeping with our two eyes open. We sincerely pray and hope that the government will come to our aid and ensure that this frequent challenge of insecurity is tackled decisively.

“We can’t be thinking of how we are going to navigate through our studies and be bogged down by the likelihood of being abducted. You can imagine what the parents of our abducted colleagues would be going through right now.

“We call for a strong security presence and night patrols by the police. The criminals must know that they are being monitored and will not be allowed to operate freely and get away with their crimes.”

Similarly, a Computer Engineering student, Ajibade Olanrewaju, shared the same views expressed by his colleagues, adding that the recent abduction had jolted many students.

Olanrewaju said, “Some of us never thought that such an abduction could happen just in our backyard. We had thought it was something we would always hear happened far away. So, we plead with the government and the security agencies to step up action.

“The security agencies should immediately commence patrols, especially around areas considered secluded or isolated. We beg the government and the state police command to double their efforts and help rescue our colleagues.”

Efforts to speak with the Rector of the school, Dr Kehinde Oseni, were unsuccessful as he was said to have gone on an official assignment.

The spokesperson for the polytechnic, Adedayo Folorunso, had also yet to reply to the enquiries sent to her WhatsApp as of the time of filing this report.

However, one of the school officials, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press, said the school management had been working hand in hand with security agencies to secure the release of the abducted students.

“What I can tell you emphatically is that the management of the school is not sleeping over the matter. It has been working and synergising with the security agencies to ensure that these students regain their freedom as quickly as possible.

“We are all parents and none of us would be comfortable having his or her children with kidnappers, so all hands are on deck to get the students out of the kidnappers’ den,” he said.

The President of the Students’ Union Government of the school, Bukunmi Akinpelu, had equally not replied to the enquiries sent to his WhatsApp as of the time of filing this report.

The spokesperson for the state police command, Oluseyi Babaseyi, when contacted on Friday, said there was no new update other than that the police were continuing their investigation and rescue operations for the abducted students.