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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Abducted schoolchildren and teachers of the Apostolic Faith Group of School, Emure-Ekiti, Ekiti State, have regained their freedom after seven days in the kidnappers’ den.
Those who regained their freedom were five students, two teachers and a bus assistant of the school bus.
However, the driver of the school bus, identified as Taye Rasaki, was not so lucky as he was killed by the kidnappers.
The gunmen had on Monday ambushed the school bus conveying the schoolchildren and staff of the school back to their homes at Eporo-Ekiti, and whisked nine of the occupants away, leaving the bus on the road.
The kidnappers reportedly reached out to the families of the abducted pupils and demanded N100 million ransom for the victims.
The abductors, however, on Thursday reduced the ransom to N15 million for all the abductees, threatening to kill the victims if the money was not paid on time.
On Sunday morning, reprieve came their way as the bandits set them free at about 1:30am.
The chairman of Emure Local Government Area, Oluwatosin Adebayo, who disclosed the development, said that the victims are currently in the palace of Elemure of Emure Ekiti.
He added that the driver, Rasaki, was killed while the other eight regained their freedom.
Confirming the development in a statement on Sunday, Ekiti State Police Command spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, said: “All victims were rescued today at about 1:30am, but unfortunately, we lost the driver who was suspectedly killed by the abductors.”
Abutu noted that no arrest has been made, adding that the operation would continue so as to make the perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.
He was also silent on whether a ransom was paid or not.
Meanwhile, Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has welcomed the release of the victims, saying he kept vigil over the incident.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, the governor thanked President Bola Tinubu, security agencies and all those who made the victims’ release possible.
“The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, wishes to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Security agencies and Ekiti kete for their support which led to the timely release of the kidnapped pupils of Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary school, Emure Ekiti.
“The children and their teachers were released in the wee hours of Sunday, February 4th, and brought to the Elemure palace around 4am. However, the driver of the school bus was reported killed in the custody of the kidnappers.
“The Governor while congratulating the children and their families, expresses his profound appreciation to President Tinubu for giving specific directives that put the search and rescue mission on top gear. He also thanks the security agencies for their collaborative efforts during the search for the students, just as he extends appreciation to Ekiti kete home and abroad for their support during the security situation experienced last week.
“Noting the traumatic experience of the children in the kidnappers’ den, Governor Oyebanji has directed the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani to take the children to the State Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, for proper medical treatment and post trauma therapy.
“The Governor, who kept vigil with Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele till 3.00am to ensure the release of the children, acknowledges the solidarity shown by his colleagues governors, former governors of the state as well as religious leaders and traditional rulers.
“He urges the people of the state to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement in their communities to the authorities,” they statement read.