Abductors of Babington pupils ‘demand ransom’

The Lagos state police command says it is aware that the abductors of three pupils of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu, have contacted the parents of one of the victims to demand ransom.

Lawal Adebowale, police public relations officer in charge of Zone 2, made the disclosure on Thursday in an interview with NAN.

“We heard that one of the parents of the girls was contacted for ransom by the abductors,” Adebowale said. “We don’t have any other information other than what is in the news.”

He also appealed to the public to provide security agencies with valuable information to support efforts to ensure the safe return of the three pupils..

“Mr Bala Hassan, the assistant inspector-general of police in charge of Lagos and Ogun states, has also urged parents and school proprietors to give useful information on any suspicious movement to the police,” he said.

“The public should always have police emergency numbers to call in times of distress. All hands are on deck to get the abducted girls back safely.

“The commissioner of police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, has been on ground in Ikorodu and he has been combing the area with the anti-kidnapping team to ensure the abductors are nabbed.

“Apart from the presence of the naval officers, we also have the marine police on ground now.”

The three pupils – Timilehin Olusa, Tofunmi Popoolaniyan and Deborah Akinayo – were abducted from their school on Monday night.

The kidnappers reportedly contacted Victor Ayo Olusa, father of the first victim, to demand a ransom of N200m, which has reportedly been lowered to N20m per student.