Pupils freed after Kidnappers collect N5m more

There were open displays of emotion on Friday as the parents of the pupils of the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe, who were abducted on May 25, 2017, reunited with their children following their release after 64 days in captivity.

The pupils – Peter Jonah, Isiaq Rahmon, Adebayo George, Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf – arrived at the Lagos State Deputy Governor’s office in Alausa, Ikeja from Ondo State around 9 pm.

But a security source told us  that the kidnappers collected N5m on Tuesday, adding that the fresh payment led to the release of the children.

According to the source, the fresh payment brought the total ransom paid to the kidnappers to N37m.

Twenty suspected kidnappers of the pupils were killed in gun duels with security operatives in the events leading to the release of the pupils on Friday.

It was learnt that one civilian volunteer (local vigilante), who fought on the side of the security agents, was also killed, while eight policemen and four other volunteers sustained injuries in the shoot-outs.

The police said one of the members of the kidnap gang, who collected ransom on behalf of the gang, was also arrested.

The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, who received the children in her office in Alausa, Ikeja on behalf of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, said the state government would use the holiday period to intensify security in public schools before the next term begins.

The pupils were expected to have arrived earlier but their arrival was delayed by heavy traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The children were said to have been dropped at Aboto Creek in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State by some members of the gang at about 12 pm and moved to the office of the state’s deputy governor.

Adebule received the children in Lagos along with the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, and his deputy, Mr. Agboola Ajayi.

She said, “I will like to commend the police and other security agencies for ensuring that the children are back. We plan to have comprehensive medical check-up on the children and they will be debriefed in collaboration with other stakeholders.

“We are going back to the drawing board to ensure that all that needs to be done in terms of security before the resumption of schools is done.”

Akeredolu said combined efforts of the South-West governors and security agencies led to the release of the pupils, adding that the role played by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo, was incisive.

The Commissioner, Lagos State Police Command, Fatai Owoseni, said 20 members of the gang involved in the abduction of the pupils were killed in gun duels with security operatives.

He said two of them were ringleaders identified as Bright Adeniyi and Oniwe Iyelabo, aka America.

He said, “The response to the kidnap was swift as much as possible, which led to curtailing the gang within a specific location. Adeniyi led the abduction of the children. He met his Waterloo along with 16 others shortly after the abduction during a gun duel with security agents.