Ogun polytechnic hosts conference to address rising crime wave of abductions and thefts

n n

The management of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, in the Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State, has convened a security summit to address the challenges posed by insecurity ravaging student communities.

n

This comes amid a suspected armed robbery attack that led to the death of a student and the recent abduction of five students of the institution, who were later rescued by operatives of the Ogun State Police Command.

n

The summit, the third edition and held in the polytechnic’s boardroom on Thursday, brought together security agencies, government representatives, community leaders, traditional rulers, youth groups, and student leaders, among others.

n

Speaking at the summit, the Rector of the institution, Dr Sanni Kehinde, said insecurity in the institution’s host communities had become an urgent matter.

n

The rector said the summit was necessary to address the security situation in the Ode-Remo, Isara-Remo, and Ipara-Remo communities.

n

He said, “In recent times, the issue of security has become a matter of urgent concern. This reality calls for proactive engagement, collective responsibility, and strategic collaboration.

n

“Today’s summit is not just another gathering; it is a platform for dialogue, awareness, and solution-driven conversations. It is an opportunity for us to critically examine the security landscape within and around our community and to chart a sustainable path forward.”

n

While highlighting some of the security challenges facing the institution, the polytechnic’s Dean of Students’ Affairs, Adedayo Musari, recalled that a student was killed in a suspected armed robbery attack in one of the communities on Saturday.

n

According to him, the attackers had shot at the door of the student’s hostel, leading to a bullet hitting the student in the chest.

n

He noted that the attackers also shot the student in the leg, adding that before the arrival of security personnel, the student had died.

n

“Last week, kidnappers abducted five of our students, but thank God that the police were able to rescue them the following day.

n

“Between 2009 and 2026, in Ipara, 15 robbery cases were recorded, and two students were killed; in Isara, 32 robbery cases were recorded, and five students were killed, while in Ode, 58 robbery cases were recorded, and 16 students were killed.

n

“The boy who was killed on Saturday was shot while trying to shield his door from the robbers. The bullet hit him in the chest. While attempting to escape, he fell into a gutter, and the robbers shot him in the leg,” Musari said.

n

Speaking on measures taken to address the situation, he noted that the institution had embarked on sensitisation programmes for students on necessary security measures.

n

The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to the Ogun State Governor, Dare Odufowokan, lamented the worsening security situation across the country.

n

He urged stakeholders to collaborate to address insecurity by establishing a security committee.

n

Odufowokan also encouraged communities to regulate the movement of scavengers and hunters within the area, especially at night.

n

The Chairman of the Ode-Remo Development Council, Olufunso Afolabi, also decried the incessant attacks on students, adding that such incidents had “created fear, tension, and reputational damage for both the community and the institution.”

n

He recommended deploying additional security personnel to student-populated areas, installing functional streetlights and surveillance systems in black spots, and regulating off-campus student accommodation, among others.

n

The highlight of the event included contributions and suggestions from the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, representatives of the monarchs of the three communities, youth leaders, and the Students’ Union leadership of the institution, among others.

n

Insecurity across some tertiary institution communities in Ogun State has worsened in recent times.

n

The PUNCH reported on April 26 that about 12 gunmen reportedly attacked students of the College of Engineering, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ibogun campus, injuring some and carting away phones and a car, among other valuables.

n

The attackers were said to have inflicted machete cuts on some of the students during the attack.

n n