The Released Students
Fresh facts have emerged on how the release of the six Igbonla Model
College students was secured on Friday at Ajamkpa in Ese-Odo Local
Government of Ondo State.
PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the governments of Ondo, Ogun, Delta and
Lagos states began negotiations with the kidnappers 10 days ago when
information came out that the students were kept at the creeks in the
riverine communities of Ondo State.
The students, Peter Jonah, Isiaq Rahmon, Adebayo George, Judah
Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf, were kidnapped from their
state-owned school on May 25.
The Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, who is also from the
area, was said to have led the negotiations with the militants, on
behalf of the Lagos State Government.
“I know the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi who is from
the waterside area met with some leaders in the area and a negotiation
was made,” a source at the Ondo State Government House, said.
He said Mr. Agboola made several contacts with the militants before they were released on Friday at Ajamkpa community.
The source said the Ondo State Government also relied on the
cooperation of the Nigerian Navy and the Joint Military Task Force to
secure the release of the children.
“The release of the six students followed the intervention of the
government of the Ondo State after days of pressure and negotiations,”
the source said.
“Prominent people tried all they could to intervene.
“The Delta State deputy governor was even in the creeks personally to ensure the negotiations, but without success.
“All of a sudden, I think the kidnappers changed their minds and
released the students to the Ondo State Government alone after some
talks.
“Eventually, the students were released by their abductors and the
Navy and the marine police were contacted to transport the students
outside the creeks.
“Some of the students told us that they had been living comfortably
with their abductors in the last 64 days. One of them said they were
being fed with bread and sardines while they also sleep comfortably” the
source explained.”
The Chief Press Secretary to Mr. Agboola, Leke Akeredolu, confirmed that his principal led the negotiations with the kidnappers.
He, however, failed to give further details on how the kids were rescued.
PREMIUM TIMES further learnt that the students are already on their way to Lagos to be reunited with their parents.
A mother of one of the kidnapped students earlier confirmed the release to PREMIUM TIMES.
“They have been released. The deputy governor of Ondo state called me and I spoke with my son,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government on Friday expressed excitement over the release of the students.
In a press statement, the State’s Commissioner for Information and
Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, congratulated the parents of the students and
all concerned stakeholders over the development, just as he said the
students would undergo series of medical tests and trauma therapy before
they are reunited with their families.
“This is a welcome development and the state government has always
believed that the students would be released unhurt. The news of their
release is, therefore, a confirmation of that belief and we are glad
that they would be reuniting with their families,” Mr. Ayorinde said.
The commissioner said the state government remained resolute in its
commitment to ensure the safety of lives and property of residents in
the state and has already beefed up security in schools to prevent a
re-occurrence.
Reacting to the release of the students, the Safe Schools and
Communities Advocacy Group while congratulating the parents and
Lagosians noted that they were “released, not rescued.’’
“This means that for all of the 64 days, the police and security
agencies did little or nothing,” said Hassan Soweto, the group’s
coordinator.
“It also means that in the given situation, parents of the victims,
who are majorly civil servants and self-employed people, were left with
no option but to sell their properties in order to raise the ransom
money.
“This situation, of course, means that all of the critical questions
we raised in the course of the kidnap are very relevant and must be
addressed in the wake of the kidnapped children otherwise it is only a
matter of time before another kidnap case occurs.”
The group has been vocal in its condemnation of the handling of the abduction by the Lagos State government.
