Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, yesterday, vowed to rescue six pupils of the Government Model College, Igbonla, Epe and end activities of abductors in the state.
Ambode, who described the gunmen as disgruntled elements, said his administration will not allow the gunmen to disrupt activities in the state.
The governor gave the assurance at this year’s Children Day celebration held at Agege Stadium.
While appealing to residents to pray for the safe return of the students, he stressed that the celebration would not be complete without rescuing the captives.
“We sympathise with the parents of children kidnapped in Igbonla but with the conviction that our military and police force will do their work and rescue our children from this disgruntled elements and bring them back to us safely. We will do all the needful to get them back alive and unhurt”, Ambode said.
He said top security arrangement was on course to guarantee their safety, pledging that his government would stop at nothing to ensure that kidnapping and other criminal activities were put to an end in schools.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, said his administration was committed to protecting children from any form of abuse, child labour or molestation by religiously implementing the Child Rights Law and the Executive Order on Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.
Meanwhile, the kidnappers of six pupils have allegedly contacted some parents of the victims, demanding N1bn ransom to release them.
It was learnt that the parents were contacted on Saturday and allowed to briefly speak with their children.
While two of them were asked to pay N400m each, another two were told to raise N100m per child.
They were reportedly told to meet with the school authorities and the state government to raise the money.
However, details of ransoms demanded from the remaining parents had yet to be ascertained by our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.
The gunmen had gained entry into the school premises at about 6am on Thursday through the creek at the back of the college and headed for the boys’ hostel after breaking the school fence.
They broke the hostel doors, seized 10 senior secondary school pupils and led them to the shore where their boat was parked.
After profiling their family backgrounds, four pupils were released, while the assailants whisked away the remaining six pupils identified as Peter Jonah, Isiaq Rahmon, Adebayo George, Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf.
It was reported that the gunmen had written the school authorities three days before the incident, informing them of the attack.
They made good their threat in the dawn after policemen and soldiers, who repelled an attack around 8pm on Wednesday, left the school.
In the wake of the abduction, parents and guardians thronged the college to pick their children and wards, blaming the incident on the poor security in the school.
Some parents of the abducted schoolchildren, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the kidnappers called between 3pm and 5pm on Saturday.
A parent said, “They allowed me to speak with my son. I asked him if he was fine and he said yes. They asked me to meet with the school authorities to raise N400m for my child to be released.”
Another parent of one of the pupils said they begged the kidnappers that they had only menial jobs when they demanded the same amount.
“I said N400m was much, but one of them told me not to worry myself. He said I should meet with the school authorities and the government. I was also allowed to speak with my child. I spoke with two other parents and they said they were asked to pay N100m each,” the parent said.
When contacted on the telephone, the school Vice Principal, Academic, who did not disclose his name, said, “I’m sorry. I cannot volunteer information for you. I’m not permitted to speak to you. Thank you.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, said the police had yet to be informed about the ransom demand, adding that investigations were ongoing. – Additional report from Punch.
