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| One of the abducted girlsTofunmi Popoolaniyan |
The
kidnappers of three girls from Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary (BMJS) have
demanded N200 million ransom.
Timilehin
Olisa, Tofunmi Popoolaniyan and Deborah Akinayo, all SS2 students, were
snatched away from their classroom at about 9:30pm on Monday during
prep.
Timilehin,
it was learnt, is the daughter of Ven. Victor Ayo Olusa, the Executive
Secretary of the Lagos Anglican School Management Board.
The
kidnappers, contacted the distraught father of one of the girls on Tuesday,
demanding N200 million for the three girls.
They
were said to have goten his telephone number from his daughter, and allegedly
said their target was the school.
It
was learnt that the criminals’ first call to the man ended abruptly and they
called him again to pass on their message.
This
development was said to have provoked an emergency meeting between the school’s
management, the victims’ anxious parents and security agencies, led by Police
Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, which lasted till the early hours
of Wednesday.
Three
other meetings were held between 11am and 4:15pm with the school
authorities and security agents.
It was learnt that
security agencies may have identified the abductors’ location. Teams of
military personnel, the police and the Department of State Service (DSS) and
the local vigilante group, known as Oyabo, have been
deployed in the area.
Parents
and teachers have intensified prayers for the release of the girls. Lessons did
not start yesterday until past 10am.
All
was normal on the premises, save for the heavy presence of security men around
the administrative block and outside the school gate.
Some
parents who spoke on condition of anonymity blamed the management of the school
for lack of adequate security.
They
said on various occasions, the management was advised to raise the fence at the
School of Science and Technology, but the suggestion was ignored.
But
the school principal, Venerable Olaoluwa Adeyemi who looked very disturbed,
vented his anger on reporters who he accused of sabotaging rescue efforts.
Adeyemi,
pressed by reporters to comment on the incident, said: “The girls have not been
found till this moment and why do you want me to start addressing the press? Is
that the only job we are going to do all day? People are busy searching for the
girls while you are busy asking questions.
“You
cannot keep disturbing us here; all you need do is to join us in prayers.
Honestly, you people are not helping matters. In fact, you’re adding to the
problem by disturbing what people could have done at the right time.
“The
deputy governor was here and we recounted the whole issue in her presence and
the press men asked various questions. Both the Assistant Inspector-General of
Police and Commissioner of Police have addressed the press but for everybody to
be coming here as if this place is a pilgrimage is not good enough.”
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