One suspect was killed in a gun battle between state police operatives and suspected thieves who raided Abbey Hostel in Ode Remo, Ogun, where some Gateway ICT Polytechnic Saapade students dwell.
It was reported that four suspected thieves invaded the area at about 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 35, 2024, and began robbing the hostel.
According to a source, the students were denied access to their mobile phones and other electronic devices during the operation.
It was also revealed that while the heist was taking place, one of the locals allegedly informed the police about the operations in the neighbourhood.
When the accused robbers saw the police approaching the area, they began shooting at the anti-crime patrol team dispatched to the dormitory to rescue the students from their assailants. A robber was slain in the process.
Omolola Odutola, spokesperson for the State Police Command, confirmed the event to journalists on Thursday, saying that other suspects who fled the scene were injured to varying degrees.
“One of the four suspects was neutralised in the gun duel. The three fled the robbery scene with bullet wounds. Our men recovered a bag containing five iPhones, one techno phone, a wristwatch, an iPod, and a power bank. Efforts are currently ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects,” Odutola said.
Robbers have recently turned the Sapaade Polytechnic and student residences into hotspots.
A local robbery incident in December 2023 claimed the life of a student known only as Segun.
In November 2023, there were also reports of intermittent gunfire as a group of alleged robbers broke into student residences and stole some of the students’ personal belongings.
It is also stated that several female students were raped and that others were shot.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
