…..DIG reassures parents of students’
rescue, safety
Parents of six students of the Lagos
State Model College, Igbonla, Epe, who were abducted 39 days ago, yesterday denied
that the kidnappers called and gave them deadline for the latest ransom of
N20million.
The denial came after some reports
claimed that the militant kidnappers, led by General America, who abducted the
students from their hostel, called the parents, giving them next week Thursday
as deadline to cough up N20million.
According to the reports, the
N20million was supposed to be the balanced of their ransom. The kidnappers had
earlier collected N10million ransom from the distraught parents.
The parent yesterday denied
receiving any threat message from the gunmen, demanding they pay the N20million
ransom by next week Thursday.
The report said in part: “Our
message to you is to inform you and other parents that you should get our
balance ready before we will continue with any discussion with you next week
Thursday.”
It was claimed that the militants
warned the parents to ensure they get the money ready.
One of the parents, said: “It’s not
true. The kidnappers didn’t call us. Today, I called our coordinator; he’s like
the leader of parents’ whose children were abducted. I called him to know if
the kidnappers called, he said no. In fact, he said that the kidnappers had not
called him for close to three weeks now. Whatever people are writing, they are
just writing for mere writing. I also don’t believe the kidnappers called the
school because the kidnappers have nothing to do with the school.”
The chairman of the Lagos State
Neighbourhood Safety Agency (LNSA), Mr Israel Ajao, a retired Deputy Inspector
General of Police (DIG), has, however reassured the worried parents that
security agencies were doing everything humanly possible to rescue their
children. He promised that the children would soon reunite with their parents.
Ajao, who is also a member of the
State Security Trust Fund, said security agencies in the state were working
assiduously to contain the menace of kidnapping in the state.
He disclosed this on Friday, during
an interactive session with Crime Reporters’ Association (CRAN) in Ikeja, Lagos
State. He further disclosed that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was working hard to
ensure the kidnapped students were freed unhurt from their abductors.
His words: “A lot is being done,
which I may not be able to disclose for security reasons; but I am assuring you
that the students are safe and would soon be reunited with their parents very
soon.”
The Lagos State Command Police
Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Olarinde Famous –Cole said the command was
hopeful that the students would soon be released.
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