54 days after their kidnap, Lagos CP says abducted pupils are fine

Fatai Owoseni, Lagos state commissioner of police, says the six pupils abducted from Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe, are fine.

Gunmen suspected to be militants on May 25 broke into the school and kidnapped the pupils, a week after they had notified the school authorities of their proposed visit.

The pupils – Peter Jonah, Isiaq Rahmon, Adebayo George, Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf – had spent 54 days in the custody of their kidnappers as of Tuesday.

Speaking during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ikeja on Tuesday, Owoseni said the police were committed to rescuing the children.

“I want to tell you that the children are fine. We will continue to intensify efforts with a view to ensuring that the children are reunited with their parents,” he said.

“I want us to continue with the understanding that the main objective of all of us is to successfully reunite these children with their parents. With your support and prayers, the children will be reunited with their parents.”

The kidnappers had reportedly demanded one billion naira ransom for the release of the pupils but later reduced it to N600 million.

Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos state governor, had said he felt “terribly inadequate” that the boys are still in custody.

“I want to assure everybody that we are on top of it. We cannot be putting all the efforts that we are making on the pages of newspapers. That will jeopardise our efforts to recover those children,” he was quoted to have said.

The police had earlier announced the arrest of three suspected militants involved in the kidnap.

Abba Kyari, assistant commissioner of police, had listed those arrested to include Egelu Endurance, 25, (a.k.a. Jubby), Stanley Yomi Irabomini, 25, (a.k.a. Powei) and Bentel Endurance, 24 – all from Ovia south local government area of Edo state.