Ogun poly, security agencies collaborate to curb insecurity

The management of the Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, in Remo-North Local Government Area of Ogun State, said it has commenced routine surveillance in collaboration with security agencies to curb incessant attacks by suspected robbers and rapists.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ogun Polytechnic, Adedayo Folorunso, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Online on Friday.

According to Folorunso, the polytechnic held a security summit on Wednesday to address the issue of insecurity that has ravaged the Isara and Ode-Remo communities hosting the polytechnic, where some students were attacked.

In December 2023, a student identified simply as Segun was killed in a robbery incident in the area.

The Ogun State Police Command, on December 6, said it arrested five new suspects in connection with the recent robbery attacks and killings in some parts of the state and recovered two stolen Lexus cars.

Earlier in November 2023, sporadic shootings were also reported when some suspected robbers invaded students’ hostels and dispossessed them of personal belongings.

Some female students were also reportedly molested, while others were said to have been left with gunshot wounds.

In December last year, the Ogun Polytechnic school management announced the closure of the institution following incessant robbery attacks on students.

Folorunsho, while quoting the Rector of the Polytechnic, Kehinde Sanni, lamented the attacks on the students of the Polytechnic, stressing that such attacks often have a devastating effect on the victims.

Kehinde stressed that the polytechnic was collaborating with security agencies within the polytechnic communities to enhance the safety of students within and outside the campus by providing some patrol vehicles for the community to aid routine surveillance.

“The challenges of insecurity are enormous: the health hazards, loss of belongings, psychological discomfort, and, above all, post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Our commitment to fostering a safe and secure environment is paramount. I am happy to inform you that the polytechnic is on top of the recent attack on our students by unscrupulous individuals.

“The polytechnic has released some patrol vans for the community for joint patrol towards the security of the communities,” he said.

The Director of Students of the Ogun Polytechnic, Adedayo Musari, also disclosed that the school had commenced registration of all off-campus hostels so that it could be able to respond to immediate security concerns.

Musari said, “We have commenced registration of all hostels so that we can easily identify such hostels when there is any security breach.

“Some of the hostels are in isolated places, making it difficult to access them when there is an issue. So students are to come forward to register their hostels and the landlords’ names.”

Report suspicious activities, movements

Also, the Divisional Police Officer, Ode-Remo Division, ASP Abubakar Imoh, who was said to be at the summit, urged the students to be security conscious as they go about their activities.

He urged them to report suspicious activities and movements in their area while urging them to cooperate with security agencies.

Imoh said, “I urge you all to be security conscious because security is everyone’s responsibility. When you observe any suspicious movement or persons, do not hesitate to report to the police.”

Meanwhile, operatives of the Ogun State Police Command arrested three persons on November 27, 2023, in connection with the robbery attacks on students of the Ogun Polytechnic who reside in the Ode-Remo and Ipara-Remo communities of Remo North Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, disclosed that the three suspects were arrested during a stop and search operation conducted within the area after a security summit organised by the Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alamutu.