More details have emerged of the behind the scenes manoeuvres that lead to the release of the six Ighonla model college students, Epe, after being kept in captivity for 64 days by their captors.
The six students, Peter Jonah, Isiaq Rahmon, Adebayo George, Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf, were kidnapped from their state-owned school on May 25.
Information filtering from sources familiar with the case showed that the governments of Ondo, Ogun, Delta and Lagos states were actively involved in the negotiations that lead to the release of the students with the kidnappers who were kept at the creeks in the riverine communities of Ondo State.
Agboola Ajayi, the Ondo State Deputy Governor who happens to come 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,” the source said.
Lagos State Government expressed excitement over the release of the students.
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.”