Police Kill Three Kidnappers in Gun Battle After Freeing Six Ogun Polytechnic Students

Nigerian police neutralized three kidnappers in a gun battle after rescuing six abducted students from Gateway ICT Polytechnic in Ogun State, while authorities in Lagos, Kogi and elsewhere pursued separate probes into cult killings, arms smuggling and reprisal violence.

Kidnappers Neutralized After Ogun Polytechnic Student Rescue

The Nigeria Police Force confirmed that three suspected kidnappers who abducted students of the Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Sapaade, Ogun State were neutralised in a gun duel with security operatives. [2] Following the rescue of the victims, the police anti-kidnapping unit and operatives of the Department of State Security trailed the kidnappers to their hideout. [2] The security team engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel during which three suspects were neutralised while others escaped with gunshot injuries. [2] Six Gateway ICT Polytechnic students who were kidnapped at Ipara were released unhurt following intensive security pressure. [2] Anti-Kidnapping and DSS operatives subsequently stormed the kidnappers’ hideout and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel. [2] One AK-47 rifle, one empty magazine, three mobile phones, and the sum of N2.3 million were recovered during the operation. [2] The State Criminal Investigation Department had commenced further investigation into the incident. [2] Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun declared that kidnappers and other criminal elements would have no hiding place in the state following the rescue of the five students and two other residents. [2] The governor addressed journalists at his Oke-Mosan office, Abeokuta, alongside security chiefs and some of the rescued students. [2] The successful operation underscored his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property. [2] The students were rescued during a coordinated operation involving the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Ogun State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps), local vigilantes, and hunters. [2] The operation received a major boost after the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, approved the deployment of a police helicopter for aerial surveillance, which played a crucial role in the rescue. [2]

Lagos Man Beaten to Death in Cultist Dispute Over Missing Phone

A young man identified simply as Azeez has been beaten to death by suspected cultists following a dispute over a missing phone at Oko-Oba in the Agege area of Lagos State. [1] The incident occurred on Monday, August 3. [1] Azeez was involved in an argument with some of his colleagues over a missing phone after they attended a party. [1] The argument later degenerated into an assault on Azeez by some of the suspected cultists, said to be his friends. [1] Azeez later succumbed to injuries sustained during the assault. [1] The incident began on Sunday night, August 2, during a birthday celebration. [1] A fight broke out at the event, during which one Abela allegedly took a phone and handed it to Azeez. [1] Trouble started after the owner of the phone began searching for it. [1] When the owner and his friends confronted Azeez after the phone was found in his possession, he told them that Abela had given him the phone to keep. [1] Abela, who was sitting there, denied Azeez, even when people saw him. [1] The owner of the phone and his friends, unable to confront Abela, attacked Azeez before leaving the party. [1] Azeez later confronted Abela over his alleged denial of giving him the phone, leading to another argument and subsequent assault. [1] Azeez was taken to another location by suspected members of the Neo-Black Movement, where the attack was carried out on him. [1] The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, could not be reached for comments as calls made to her telephone lines were not responded to. [1]

Court Remands Two in Customs Arms Smuggling Probe

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has ordered the remand of two men, Ejiogu Godson and Robert Eze, for 15 days over alleged smuggling of high-calibre firearms and ammunition into Nigeria. [3] Justice Friday Ogazi made the order on Friday following an ex parte application filed by the Nigeria Customs Service through its Legal Services Department, Tin-Can Island, Apapa, Lagos. [3] The application, marked FHC/LAG/CR/601/2026, was filed and moved by counsel for the NCS, Mrs Kehinde Bode-Ayeni. [3] Bode-Ayeni urged the court to grant the remand order to enable the Customs Service to conclude its investigation into the alleged offences and determine the appropriate charges against the suspects. [3] Customs officers commenced monitoring container number TEMU 1845369 on July 8, 2026, following credible intelligence. [3] When the container was examined on July 13, officers allegedly discovered firearms and ammunition concealed inside it. [3] Further investigations led to the arrest of Godson and Eze, who allegedly provided information about other persons suspected of involvement in the alleged forgery and manipulation of Customs records and documents. [3] The two suspects had made confessional statements under caution. [3] Efforts were ongoing to arrest other persons allegedly connected with the matter. [3] The investigation could not reasonably be concluded within the constitutionally prescribed 24 or 48 hours because investigators needed to travel to other jurisdictions to recover exhibits and apprehend other suspects. [3] Releasing the suspects could jeopardise the investigation, particularly as they were believed to know the whereabouts of some of the persons still at large. [3] Justice Ogazi held that the application had merit and granted it as prayed. [3] The judge ordered that Godson and Eze be remanded in a Correctional Centre for 15 days. [3] The matter was adjourned until August 25, 2026, for possible arraignment of the suspects. [3]

Kogi Police Investigate Reprisal Killings and Restore Calm

The Kogi State Police Command has restored calm following recent reprisal killings in Abugi and adjoining communities in the state. [4] No fewer than five persons were killed in what was later identified as a reprisal following the killing of a herder in the community on Thursday. [4] The Area Command, Lokoja, in conjunction with relevant security and community stakeholders, conducted critical engagements with traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders, focusing on reconciliation, restoration of peaceful coexistence and addressing the underlying causes of the conflict. [4] The command had also commenced a full-scale investigation into the incident through the State Criminal Investigation Department, with efforts underway to identify, trace and apprehend all persons found to have participated in or contributed to the killings. [4] The investigation will be pursued diligently, and any suspect found culpable will be brought before the law to face the appropriate legal consequences. [4] Personnel remain strategically deployed within the affected communities to prevent further violence and protect lives and property. [4] Following the interventions and stakeholder engagements, normalcy had been restored in Abugi and its environs, with security monitoring continuing to ensure sustained peace. [4] The restoration of calm does not in any way halt the ongoing investigation, as the command remains committed to ensuring that those responsible for the loss of lives are identified and brought to justice. [4] Commissioner of Police Naziru Kankarofi reiterated that the command remained fully committed to protecting residents’ lives and property across the state. [4] The command’s police chief urged members of the public to remain law-abiding and promptly report suspicious movements or activities to the police and other security agencies. [4]

Broader Security Operations Across Nigeria

These incidents form part of wider security operations reported by police across multiple states. [2] The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, confirmed operational successes in a statement highlighting police actions nationwide. [2] Separate probes in Lagos addressed the fatal cult-related assault and the alleged arms smuggling case handled by customs. [1] [3] In Kogi, authorities focused on restoring order after the reprisal deaths while pursuing those responsible. [4] Coordinated multi-agency efforts in Ogun demonstrated the use of aerial assets and community involvement in resolving kidnapping cases. [2]

What to watch next: Ongoing investigations by the State Criminal Investigation Department in Ogun into the kidnapping incident, by Lagos police into the cult assault, by Nigeria Customs into additional suspects in the arms case, and by Kogi police into the reprisal killings.