[UPDATED] 6 Lagos Students Kidnapped In May Regain Freedom

Hamilton Nwosa
Writer

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The Ondo State Government on Friday, has help in securing the release of the six kidnapped students of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe after spending 64 days with their abductors.

The students were released in Ondo State, and are presently in custody of the State Police Command.

 The students, Pelumi Philips, Farouq Yusuf, Isiaq Rahmon, Adebayo George, Judah Agbausi and Peter Jonah were abducted from their school and when the kidnappers established contact with the parents, a ransom of N400m was demanded but this 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.

But, there are unconfirmed reports that no ransom was paid to secure their release. It was gathered the six students were released at Aboto Creek in Ilaje local government of Ondo state on Friday afternoon.

Recall that gunmen had in May kidnapped the six pupils from the Igbonla Model College, Epe area of Lagos.

The Lagos State Government has welcome the release of the students.

Government on Friday expressed excitement over the release of six students abducted since 25 May.

In a press statement, the 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 Akinwunmi 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.

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