Igbonla Model College Kidnap: Victim falls ill in abductors’ den

One of the six persons abducted by militants from Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, in Eredo Local Council Development Area of Epe, last Thursday, has fallen ill at the captors den.
It was learned that one of the kidnappers contacted a family member of the sick captive yesterday, informing her of the development.
This is just as payment of ransom, which the kidnappers initially pegged at N5 million was reduced to N3.5 million for each of the captives, yesterday.
Meanwhile, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered the demolition of all illegal structures along waterways and creeks in the state. He gave a one-week ultimatum to those illegally occupying shanties around waterways to vacate their abode.

Kidnappers speak
with victim’s family
A relative of one of those held captive, who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “My sister was contacted again yesterday. After much plea, they told her to go and get N3.5 million.
“The strange caller promised to call again and inform her where she would drop the money. He also informed her that our relative was sick. At that stage, my sister could not speak any more. I collected the phone from her, but when he heard my voice, he cut the line.
“The phone rang after three hours and my sister picked. The stranger warned her never to give the phone to anyone else. He told her that our relative’s temperature was high and that he was also shivering.
“My sister begged in tears to speak with our relative and when she did, he (the relative) begged her to do all within their power to get him out of there. At a point, our relative burst into tears. He wanted to say something, but the phone was collected from him.
“The strange caller, however, assured my sister that a nurse was about to administer the necessary medication on our relative. He also assured that none of them was maltreated, but stated that they will only incur their wrath if any of them tried to play smart.”

‘Family raises N750,000’
“At the moment, we have raised N750,000 which was contributed by relatives and friends. The strange caller also told my sister that they would call her to drop whatever she has at a designated place. But he insisted it must be up to their demand.”
It was also gathered that distraught parents of the abducted persons would be meeting with the management of the school on the way forward, over the release of their loved ones.
Meanwhile, the Senator representing Lagos East senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, has called on the Inspector General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to redouble their efforts to ensure that the kidnapped staff and students of Government Model College, Igbonla, Epe, were rescued.
Ashafa spoke during a visit to the school to commiserate with staff, students and loved ones of those abducted.
The Senator, who met with the Principal of the Junior School, Mr. O. Osideru, and some teachers, who gave an account of the incident, restated the resolve of the Lagos State Government to ensure that the kidnapped staff and students of the school were rescued safely.

Ambode orders demolition
Governor Ambode has directed relevant authorities to commence demolition of all illegal structures along waterways and creeks in the state.
The governor, who gave the directive after inspecting an ongoing housing scheme under the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme, Lagos, HOMS, at Ilubirin, Lagos Island, expressed concern over the spate of kidnapping in the state.
Ambode said plans were on to approach members of the state House of Assembly to seek for the review of 2011 Criminal Law and other relevant laws that could help in bringing kidnapping to an end in Lagos State.
The governor noted that the warm hospitality given by the state government to everyone, irrespective of state of origin, to freely reside anywhere within the state had been abused.

… re-assures Lagosians
The governor said: “I want to assure our citizens that the students and teachers of Igbonla Model College, who were kidnapped recently, would be rescued shortly. The era of kidnapping has come to an end.”
Ambode, who also spoke on the plans to continue construction of the Ilubirin Housing Scheme, said his administration had taken time to review its mortgage scheme, vis-à-vis its financial flow, adding that the Illubirin axis would be designed as live, work and play environment under a private sector initiative.