Chaos erupted on Thursday morning at The Abbey Hostel in Ode Remo, home to students from Gateway ICT Polytechnic Saapade, as a gun battle unfolded between state police operatives and suspected robbers.
According to reports, an unidentified armed robber was reportedly shot dead by the police during the exchange of gunfire. The disturbance began around 1:30 am on Thursday when four suspected robbers invaded the area and initiated a raid on the hostel.
An anonymous source in the vicinity, fearing victimization, revealed that the assailants dispossessed students of their mobile phones and other electronic devices during the operation. Amid the ongoing robbery, a resident reportedly alerted the police about the unfolding situation.
Upon the arrival of the anti-crime patrol team sent to rescue the students, the suspected robbers, upon spotting the approaching officers, engaged in a shootout. One of the robbers lost his life in the process.
Confirming the incident in a WhatsApp chat with our correspondent on Thursday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, stated that other suspects who fled the scene sustained various degrees of injuries.
“One of the four suspects was neutralised in the gun duel. The three fled the robbery scene with bullet wounds. Our men recovered a bag containing five iPhones, one techno phone, a wristwatch, an iPod, and a power bank. Efforts are currently ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects,” Odutola said.
Sapade’s polytechnic and student hostels have witnessed an increasing prevalence of robbery incidents recently.
In December 2023, a student known as Segun lost his life in a robbery incident in the vicinity.
In a prior occurrence in November 2023, sporadic gunfire was reported when suspected robbers raided student hostels, resulting in the theft of personal belongings. Reports also indicated that some female students were subjected to molestation, while others sustained gunshot wounds.