Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, provided reassurance on Saturday to the parents and families of the kidnapped pupils and staff of Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti, assuring them that efforts were underway to secure the safe release of the abductees. Oyebanji also pledged to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure they face the full force of the law.
The incident occurred on Monday when gunmen attacked a bus transporting schoolchildren and staff from the school to their homes at Eporo, kidnapping nine individuals and taking them to an unknown location in the forest.
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Interest Groups, Princess Toyin Agbaje-Malomo, addressed the concerned parents during a visit in Emure Ekiti. She emphasized that Governor Oyebanji was diligently working to secure the release of the captives, reassuring the families that they were not alone in this challenging time.
During the gathering, four parents and families shared their distressing experiences, revealing the kidnappers’ demand for a N15 million ransom. Mrs. Dorcas Ojo, a grandmother of three abducted children, pleaded for financial assistance, stating that the kidnappers had communicated that the children were weakening, and a prompt payment was required. The kidnappers rejected an offered amount, insisting on the full N15 million.
Pastor Clement Adebisi, whose wife was among the abducted, expressed the need for government intervention, urging swift action for the release of the captives. Another parent, Oluwadare Oniya, appealed for urgent government assistance, emphasizing the dire situation faced by the abducted nine-year-old children who were reportedly denied food and water.
The Chairman of Emure Local Government Area, Adedayo Adedigbo, affirmed that collaborative efforts between the state government, the Emure community, and security agencies were underway to rescue the kidnapped individuals. The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, Sunday Abutu, disclosed that both overt and covert operations, including support from the Nigeria Police Force Airwing and Intelligence Response Team, were being intensified to rescue the kidnapped school children.
