The abductors of five students and four staff members of the Apostolic Faith Group of Schools in Emure Ekiti have been kidnapped, with abductors demanding a hefty N100 million ransom for their release.
It was gathered that principal, Boje Olanireti, confirmed the ransom demand, highlighting the alarming rise of kidnapping cases across the country that continues to challenge security agencies.
Tragically, on the same day, two Ekiti monarchs were killed by gunmen, adding to the growing security concerns in the region.
The traditional rulers encountered the suspected kidnappers while traveling between Ipao and Oke Ako in the Ikole Local Government Area.
The schoolchildren and staff were abducted as they journeyed home after school hours, their bus intercepted by armed assailants just a five-minute drive from the school in the Emure community.
Describing the incident, Olanireti explained, “Immediately the school closed at 3 pm, and by the time we gathered all the children, it was already 3:30 pm. It was that time that they moved. So, the incident happened between 3:30 pm and 4 pm. The school is in a suburb of Emure village, so they were going back home in Eporo. The incident occurred just about a five-minute drive from the school to Eporo.
“When the gunmen attacked, the people around heard the gunshots and they came to Emure with motorcycles to inform the people in the school about what happened. We immediately reported to the police station at Emure.
“The students were over 25 on the bus when the incident happened. When the gunmen attacked them, they shot the tire of the vehicle and asked the children to come out of the bus. They asked all of them to lie down. They picked five students and four staff members. They, after that, asked others to go.”
It was also learned that the desperate parents, unable to meet the initial demand of N10 million per victim, were later faced with a collective demand of N100 million.
Moreover, community leaders, including the Aremo of Emure Kingdom and the Emure Local Government Chairman, have appealed to the state government for assistance.
Chief Clement Akinola also emphasized the high tension in the community, urging the government to establish military posts along the porous borders with Ondo State to curb kidnappings and criminal activities.
Tunji Falana, the Chairman of the Joint Security Committee, echoed the need for immediate action, urging the government to establish police posts and army checkpoints at the vulnerable borders to enhance security in the area.
