Ogun polytechnic security summit addresses rising attacks, killings and abductions affecting student communities in Remo North

The management of Gateway ICT Polytechnic has convened a major security summit following rising attacks, killings and abductions affecting students living within host communities in Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

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The summit, held on Thursday in the institution’s boardroom, came amid growing concerns over insecurity after a student was recently killed during a suspected armed robbery attack and five students were abducted before being rescued by operatives of the Ogun State Police Command.

The third edition of the Ogun polytechnic security summit brought together security agencies, government officials, traditional rulers, youth leaders, community representatives and student union executives to discuss urgent solutions to the worsening security situation.

Speaking at the event, the Rector of the institution, Sanni Kehinde, described insecurity within the institution’s host communities as a pressing concern requiring immediate collective action.

Kehinde said the summit was organised to address security challenges affecting the Ode-Remo, Isara-Remo and Ipara-Remo communities.

“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,” the rector said.

“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.”

The institution’s Dean of Students’ Affairs, Adedayo Musari, revealed disturbing details about recent violent incidents affecting students.

Musari recalled that a student was killed during a suspected robbery attack on Saturday after armed assailants reportedly shot through the door of a hostel room.

According to him, the bullet struck the student in the chest before the attackers allegedly shot him again in the leg while attempting to flee.

“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.

He also disclosed that kidnappers abducted five students last week before police operatives rescued them the following day.

Providing alarming statistics, Musari stated that between 2009 and 2026, Ipara recorded 15 robbery cases with two students killed, while Isara recorded 32 robbery incidents resulting in five student deaths.

He added that Ode recorded 58 robbery attacks during the same period, with 16 students reportedly killed.

Musari noted that the institution had intensified sensitisation programmes aimed at educating students on precautionary security measures.

The Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to the Ogun State Governor, Dare Odufowokan, lamented the worsening security challenges across the country and urged stakeholders to establish a security committee to coordinate responses.

Odufowokan also advised communities to monitor and regulate the movement of scavengers and hunters, especially during nighttime hours.

Chairman of the Ode-Remo Development Council, Olufunso Afolabi, described the repeated attacks on students as damaging to both the institution and surrounding communities.

Afolabi recommended deploying more security personnel to student-populated areas, improving street lighting and surveillance infrastructure, and strengthening regulations around off-campus accommodation.

Representatives of the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, traditional rulers, youth groups and the institution’s Students’ Union also contributed recommendations during the summit.

The development comes amid increasing security concerns across tertiary institutions in Ogun State.

Students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University were reportedly attacked on April 26 when about 12 gunmen invaded the College of Engineering campus in Ibogun, injuring several students and carting away valuables, including phones and a vehicle.

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Some victims were also said to have sustained machete injuries during the attack.