The Ogun State Police Command has launched a coordinated rescue operation following the abduction of at least five students during an attack by suspected gunmen on a private hostel serving students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade (GAPOSA) in Ipara-Remo, Ogun State.

The attack occurred at about 8pm on Wednesday when the armed men stormed a private hostel along Paraga Road, Ipara, a community adjoining the institution, firing gunshots and whisking away several occupants after an operation that reportedly lasted about 30 minutes.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi, said the command immediately activated a joint security response after receiving a distress call.

According to him, tactical police teams, intelligence assets and other security agencies have been deployed to the area to secure the victims’ release and arrest those responsible.

“The Ogun State Police Command is aware of the abduction incident at a private hostel in the Ipara area on the night of Wednesday, July 29, 2026.

“Immediately the distress report was received, the Police and other security agencies activated a coordinated operational response, deploying tactical teams and intelligence assets to the area. Rescue operations are ongoing to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the apprehension of those responsible,” Babaseyi said.

The police spokesman appealed to parents, students and residents to remain calm and avoid spreading misinformation capable of undermining the ongoing operation.

He urged members of the public to report suspicious persons or activities through the Gateway Shield toll-free line (0800 000 9111) or the command’s emergency numbers.

Although the police said investigations were ongoing to verify the exact number of victims, the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the institution confirmed that five students were abducted during the attack.

In a statement jointly signed by SUG President Akinpelu Bukunmi Timothy, General Secretary Salau Boluwaduro Saidat, and Public Relations Officer Matthew Francis Sonayon, the union described the attacked hostel as being in a remote area surrounded by thick bush, making it vulnerable to criminal attacks.

The union said the assailants struck at about 7:45pm, firing several gunshots during the invasion. While some students escaped through the hostel’s POP ceiling, others were unable to flee before the attackers whisked them away.

It added that no life was lost during the incident and confirmed that the matter had been reported to the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies.

The student leaders also urged students, parents and members of the public to disregard false and exaggerated reports circulating on social media, insisting that misinformation would only create unnecessary panic within the academic community.

Following the attack, the management of Gateway ICT Polytechnic suspended all examinations scheduled for Thursday.

In a notice to students, the institution announced the cancellation of Thursday’s examinations while retaining Friday’s examinations as scheduled, subject to further review.

“Following the unfortunate incident that occurred yesterday, today’s examination has been cancelled. However, tomorrow’s examination remains scheduled as planned. If there is any change regarding tomorrow’s examination, an official announcement will be communicated promptly,” the notice stated.

Remo Secondary School (RSS) has made history with the graduation of its 2026 class in what is being described as a groundbreaking academic ceremony, as the prestigious public secondary school celebrated its graduating students in a university-themed graduation style.

The historic valedictory service, which brought together students, parents, teachers, school administrators, old students and distinguished guests, was marked by pomp, pageantry and an atmosphere of academic excellence, as graduating students appeared in full academic graduation gowns, caps and other traditional graduation regalia.

In a striking departure from conventional valedictory ceremonies typically held in public secondary schools, the school’s principals and teachers, as well as the National Executives of the Remo Secondary School Old Students’ Association (RSSOSA), also donned academic gowns, creating the atmosphere and grandeur of a university convocation.

The remarkable initiative transformed the valedictory service into a memorable graduation experience for the students and marked a significant milestone in the history of Remo Secondary School, Ogun State, and potentially, the Nigerian public school system.

The ceremony was not only a celebration of the completion of secondary education, but also a deliberate effort to instil in the graduating students a sense of pride, achievement and responsibility as they prepare to transition into higher education and the next phase of their lives.

Another major highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of awards to deserving students in recognition of outstanding morals, good character and exemplary conduct. The awards, which cut across various categories, celebrated students who distinguished themselves not only through academic pursuits, but also through positive character traits, discipline, responsibility and good morals.

In a further demonstration of its commitment to the future of the graduating students and the advancement of education, Hope Bridge Social Impact Foundation awarded full higher education scholarships to about 25 deserving students. The scholarship awards will support the beneficiaries in pursuing their tertiary education, providing them with an opportunity to further their academic aspirations and achieve their full potential.

Speaking at the ceremony, the President of the Remo Secondary School Old Students’ Association (RSSOSA), Sir Aare Adetola Emmanuelking KOF, congratulated the graduating class and commended the school management, teachers and parents for their roles in nurturing and guiding the students throughout their academic journey.

He further expressed appreciation to the Ogun State Government, ably led by the Executive Governor, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, CON, for his administration’s commitment to transforming the education sector in the state.

He specifically acknowledged the Governor’s Yellow Revolution initiative, describing it as one of the notable interventions that has positively impacted the education sector and contributed to creating a more conducive environment for learning across public schools in Ogun State.

According to him, the Governor’s keen attention to education and the deliberate interventions of his administration have had a positive ripple effect that has extended to institutions such as Remo Secondary School, contributing to the school’s continued growth and development and helping to position it as a great institution.

Aare Adetola Emmanuelking also extended his appreciation to the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, for his leadership and evident contributions to the advancement of education in the state.

The event further highlighted the strong bond between the school and its old students, with the presence and participation of the old students, demonstrating the association’s continued commitment to the development and advancement of the institution.

The innovative university-style graduation ceremony is expected to remain one of the most memorable moments in the history of the school, and could set a new standard for how graduating students are celebrated in public secondary schools across Ogun State and beyond.

For the graduating class of 2026, the occasion was a day of pride, gratitude and celebration, a day when they were not only bid farewell from secondary school, but were honoured and celebrated as graduates stepping confidently into the future.

By Henry Ukazu

Dear Destiny Friends,

The sayings that success is a result of every little thing we do every day and that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a little step are no jokes. They are facts because the journey of greatness begins with one good step in the right direction.

In the journey of life, one must be intentional in how they live their lives. Attention must be paid to what they eat, what they say, how they dress and communicate among others. In doing this they have to pay close attention to every single step or action they take because in the grand scheme of things, they’ll ultimately play a role in the big picture.

The principle of every drop matter is powerful. This principle is applicable to family, academic, sports and entertainment, spiritual, financial, health and even personal lives especially as it relates to personal development.

Anybody that wants to succeed in life must be intentional in applying the principle of every drop. Let’s explain how this principle works in our daily and professional lives.

Family

Family is the most important element in any society. To have a beautiful family, parents must be intentional in how they live their lives and how they train their children. Little acts like showing random and intentional love which entails sacrifice, kindness, empathy, tolerance, patience, forgiveness and understanding are critical. It’s important to state that when children learn love in the family, they tend to show love in society, but when they learn about hatred in the family, they tend to exhibit chaos in society.

So, every single action of parents speaks volumes. Children learn faster from actions than words. Isn’t it true that action speaks louder than voice? So, if a man or woman wants to imbibe a particular training, culture, or lifestyle to the kids, it’s imperative they must be intentional about their life and what information and exposure they bring to their children.

Academy

The principle of every drop also plays a crucial factor in the life of a progressive student who’s interested in succeeding in school. This principle of every drop works for students who are intentional in reading every day, attending classes, doing assignments, networking with the right people and organizations. All these will play a huge role in making the student succeed academically because they are gradually laying the stones of success.

Sports and entertainment

There’s no successful athlete or entertainer that didn’t take time to build his craft. These sets of people spend time training themselves every day. According to Usain Bolt, “I train for four years to run 9 seconds”. Let’s take a minute to digest that statement. Work is indeed behind the scenes. Most people don’t see the work that is done every day, all they see is the result. The joggings, exercise, food, doctors’ appointments, etc., just to mention a little, are some of the things behind the scenes they engage in to be successful. That’s the principle of every drop. The same principle is applicable to entertainers. They make mistakes, they invest their time and resources in learning the craft. A great man once stated that someone needs to practice a skill for 10,000 hours to become an expert in it.  This statement is so profound that I concur because as a successful writer and author of three trailblazers’ books, I have developed some level of mastery in writing while still leaving room for improvement.

Spiritual

The spiritual life of anyone is the most important part of any living creature. This is simply because the spiritual controls the physical. Any Christian who is intentional in living a life that’s pleasing to God must practice the principle of little drops, and that entails, avoiding ungodly acts like engaging in sexual immorality with the opposite or same sex, stealing, going to clubs, drinking to stupor, killing, stealing, etc., and replacing them love, kindness, charity, forgiveness, patience, empathy, etc. All these are acts of little drops to live upright.

Financial

To be successful in life, one needs to save no matter how small, and this saving entails discipline. Financial advisors have advised progressive minds to save at least 1/10^th of their income. By the time one saves, one will understand the meaning of saving money and money will save you.

Health

Apart from one’s spiritual life, our health is the most important part of our life. It’s instructive to note that if you lose your money, you can get it back, if you lose your time, you can even buy it back all things all things being equal especially if you have money, if you lose your friends, you can get them back, but if you lose your health, it might take divine intervention to get them back. To have good health, it’s imperative for one to drink at least two little of water every day, exercise, sleep at least 8 hours and eat healthy amongst taking other hygienic measures like eating fruit and visiting your doctor.

Personal Development

This is another important aspect of a progressive mind. The hallmark of this principle can be seen in personal development because it shows how intentional one is elevating one’s life. As a small business owner, author, creative writer and human capacity development expert, I can’t emphasize the importance of personal development. My ability to publish three trailblazers’ books, publish creative articles consistently for the last eight years was not because I was smart or intelligent, no, it was simply because I was determined to do it. That’s personal development.

It’s one thing for people to inspire you from outside, but it’s another thing for the inspiration to come from inside. As a matter of fact, internal inspiration is the highest form of inspiration because if the whole is telling you can do something and you know you can’t do it, you’ll fail if you attempt to do it, but if the whole is telling you cannot do it, and you know you can do it, you’ll succeed because the Book of life states in 1 John 4:4 states, he that is in you is greater and stronger than he that is in the world.

Question: Do you want to succeed in life? If yes, pay attention to the principle of little things.

Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the founder of Gloemi. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate, creative writer and author of Design Your Destiny Design, Unleash Your Destiny and The Six Pillars of Succes . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com