Residents of Ipara in Ogun State have been thrown into panic after suspected armed kidnappers abducted five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic during a late-evening attack on a private hostel located off campus.
The incident occurred at about 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2026, when heavily armed gunmen stormed a private student hostel along Paraga Road in Ipara, holding occupants hostage for several minutes while firing gunshots into the air to create fear.
According to the institution’s Students’ Union Government (SUG), the attackers operated for about 30 minutes before escaping with five students to an unknown destination. Several other students reportedly escaped by breaking through the hostel’s POP ceiling and fleeing the building.
The union described the attack as a deeply disturbing development and urged students to avoid isolated off-campus hostels, particularly those surrounded by thick vegetation, in favour of accommodation in more secure and populated areas.
Following the abduction, the Ogun State Police Command launched a full-scale manhunt for the kidnappers. Security operatives have since intensified search and rescue operations with the aim of securing the safe release of the victims and apprehending those responsible for the attack.
The SUG also appealed to students, parents and members of the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information on social media, stressing that only official updates from the institution and security agencies should be relied upon.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over the safety of students living in off-campus hostels across Nigeria, with stakeholders calling for stronger security measures around higher institutions and closer collaboration between school authorities, host communities and security agencies.
As of the time of filing this report, the abducted students had not been rescued, while efforts by security agencies to track down the kidnappers were ongoing.
