Students at Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, in Ogun State are living in constant fear as criminal activities escalate around their campus. Blessing, an HND 2 student, expressed her anxiety: “We are not safe here. We live 50-50 because anything can happen anytime.”
Once revered as sanctuaries for learning, higher institutions in the state have become hunting grounds for armed robbers, kidnappers, and sexual predators. DAILY POST investigations reveal that between 2009 and 2026, over 105 robberies occurred near the polytechnic, leaving 21 students dead. In 2023, students protested after two were killed, nine shot, and a lady raped during a robbery.
Blessing recounted a recent incident where criminals used a trapped student to gain access to other rooms. “They take someone to the next door and make them knock. We heard a girl screaming, but nobody could help because it was late.”
Just last month, five students were abducted on the Isara-Ode road after mistaking kidnappers for police. They were later rescued by the Ogun State Police Command. However, the trauma lingers.
Dean of Student Affairs, Adedayo Musari, lamented the trend: “Between 2009 and 2026, we recorded 15 robbery cases in Ipara (five students killed), 32 in Isara (five killed), and 58 in Ode-Remo (16 killed).” He noted that many attackers are not even students; in a recent sweep, only 15 of 72 arrested suspects were bona fide students.
The polytechnic’s management has convened an emergency security summit. Rector Dr. Sanni Oseni emphasized: “Security is a shared duty. We must all be vigilant.” The school has also urged landlords to verify tenants’ student status to prevent harboring criminals.
Security consultant Kunle Sodipo blamed students’ ostentatious lifestyles for making them targets: “Running generators all night or flaunting expensive phones invites criminals. In Nigeria’s economy, you must enjoy quietly.” He called for security education in school curricula.
Ode-Remo Development Council Chairman Olufunso Afolabi demanded action: “Students’ lives are non-negotiable. We need security personnel, streetlights, CCTV, and a joint taskforce.”
Police PRO Oluseyi Babaseyi assured that the command is proactive: “We have arrested numerous suspects and disrupted criminal networks. A police post has been established at OOU Ibogun campus.” He urged students to use the Gateway Shield platform for reporting.
Despite these measures, students remain skeptical. “We can’t even sleep with our eyes closed,” Blessing said. The struggle for safety continues.