Lagos
Assures Residents Of Safety Of Lives, Property
Respite came
for the six students of Lagos Model College, Igbonla, Epe area of Lagos State
and their parents, 65 days after unknown men camouflaged in Police uniform
kidnapped them, but they were found in Ondo State, yesterday.
The
students, Judah Agbaosi, Ramon Isiaka, Adebanjo George, Yusuf Farouk, Peter
Jonas and Pelumi Philips, were abducted from their hostels, Green and Yellow
houses on May 25.
The Guardian
learnt that Ondo State Government intervened in the release of the students
following the refusal of the abductors, who vowed not to release the children
to any other state government in the geo-political zone.
According to
a source within the government, Lagos and Delta state governments had made
frantic efforts to secure the release of the students but to no avail.
He disclosed
that the students were released to the state government between Ajapa in
Ese-Odo Council and Ugbonla in Ilaje Council of the state around 1:00 am after
10 days of negotiation.
The state
Deputy Governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, and his Chief of Staff, Mr. Donald Ojogo,
who hail from the riverine area, went to the creek to secure the release of the
abducted children.
He revealed
further that the students noted that they had been living comfortably with
their abductors for the past nine weeks, saying they were being fed with bread
and sardines.
They were
taken to Lagos State by the state officials to rejoin their families and are
soon expected to take a flight to Abuja, where they would meet Acting President
Yemi Osinbajo.
In a
statement, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Mr.
Segun Ajiboye, expressed great joy at the safety and release of the students,
who are all boys and teenagers.
Ajiboye
attributed it to “the determined and conscientious efforts of the Acting
President, the governments of Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Delta states and the security
agencies, including the Police, SSS and the military.”
He confirmed
that “in the last few days, the deputy governors of Ondo and Delta states have
worked tirelessly to ensure that the students are released,” adding that they
would be handed over to the deputy governor of Lagos State for further actions.
“We thank
Nigerians for their prayers, and charge security agencies to remain committed
to their responsibility of ensuring the safety of the citizens,” the statement
partly read.
Despite the
initial payment of N10million as ransom and an additional N20million to the
gang, making it a total of N30million, the whereabouts of the boys remained
unknown even with continuous promises by the government and the police that
they were safe.
The
kidnappers, however, demanded for extra N1.5million as transportation fare
before they would release the boys. Efforts finally paid off yesterday, as the
boys were released by the kidnappers in Ondo State.
Confirming
the incident, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, confirmed
that the boys have been released. He, however, declined to give additional
information on the circumstances that led to their release.
It was
gathered that their release was a combined effort of the Rapid Response Squad
(RRS) and Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Lagos State Police Command led by
Owoseni.
It was also
gathered that their final release was a culmination of underground work by the
police operatives who were deployed to help in the rescue of the boys.
Meanwhile,
Lagos State Government has not only expressed excitement over their release,
but has also assured residents of their safety and that of their property.
In a press
statement, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve
Ayorinde, congratulated the parents of the students and all concerned
stakeholders over the development, just as he said the students would undergo
series of medical tests and trauma therapy before they are reunited with their
families.
“This is a
welcome development and the State Government has always believed that the
students would be released unhurt. The news of their release is, therefore, a
confirmation of that belief and we are glad that they would be reuniting with
their families,” Ayorinde said.
He said the
State Government remains resolute in its commitment to ensure the safety of
lives and property of residents in the State and has already beefed up security
in schools to prevent a re-occurrence.
“It is on
record that the Governor Akinwumi Ambode-led administration has invested
massively on equipment and welfare of security personnel so as to ensure that
the State remains safe for residents and investors.
“This
Government has already taken giant steps to secure all our schools especially
those in the suburbs and riverine areas and we are confident that the steps
taken so far will go a long way in nipping a repeat of such in the bud,”
Ayorinde said.
The
Commissioner also quoted Governor Ambode as commending the efforts of security
agencies who worked tirelessly to ensure the safe release and return of the
students.
It would be
recalled that after the students were abducted on May 25, 2017 from their
school, the kidnappers established contact with their parents, a ransom of
N400m was demanded, but it was later reduced to N100m owing to the inability of
the parents to meet up with the demand.
The
kidnappers were said to have advised the parents to reach out to others and
deliberate on how to raise the N100m as well as mounting pressure on the state
government to raise the money for them.
It was
alleged that the parents later raised N10million each, which the kidnappers
rejected. At a time, the affected and concerned family members and relations
protested at Government House Alausa, where they accused the state government
of abandoning them to their fate.
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