Five days ago, the pupils, a teacher and the school's vice-principal, were kidnapped from their school in Igbonla the Epe area. Following the abduction, the kidnappers demanded a hefty ransom of N5m each for their release but after protracted negotiations, the two sides eventually agreed on a price of N6m.
Apparently, the attackers, said to be five gunmen and a woman, had invaded the school during the morning prayers. They reportedly shot into the air before making away with the pupils, identified as Isaac Adebisi, Okonkwo Emmanuel, Abu and Jeremiah and their English Language/Civic Education teacher Lukman Oyerinde, and vice principal Mr Oyesola.
It is believed that the kidnappers are still within the Epe area and are said to have also fired a warning shot while conversing with the families on the telephone. It was also reported that one of the schoolboys fell sick in the kidnappers’ hideout, as the attackers warned the families to hurry up with regards to the payment of the ransom.
The kidnappers, who reportedly told the family of the affected schoolboy that they had administered treatment to him, later reduced the ransom to N3.5m for each of the victims.
By Monday, the ransom was reportedly reduced to N1m for each of the victims and the kidnappers gave the families a 48-hour ultimatum to pay, as the condition of the sick schoolboy had worsened.
One family source of the sick boy said: “The men called on Monday and said they gave the family till Wednesday to pay the ransom. While the family members begged them, the kidnappers let them realise that the health of the boy had worsened but they would not release him without a good ransom.
Another source, close to the family of one of the other victims said that the family members had raised three-quarter of the ransom, adding that the money was not sourced from the government. Lagos State Police Command spokeswoman Dolapo Badmos, said that a rescue operation is currently in progress.
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