As
four pupils, a teacher and a vice-principal of Lagos Junior Model College,
Igbonla, Epe, Lagos State, spend five days in captivity, the kidnappers have
given their families 48 hours to pay the ransoms placed on them.
This
is just as the abductors told the families on Monday that the health condition
of the schoolboy, reported to be sick, had worsened.
It was learnt that the
ransoms demanded for the six victims had also been reduced to N6m.
The
attackers, said to be five gunmen and a woman, had last Thursday, at about 8am,
invaded the school during the morning prayers.
The
abductors reportedly shot into the air before making away with the pupils,
identified as Isaac Adebisi, Okonkwo Emmanuel, Abu and Jeremiah; the English
Language/Civic Education teacher, Lukman Oyerinde, and the VP, A.O. Oyesola.
It
had been reported that the kidnappers, who were still believed to be within the
Epe area, got across to the families of the victims on the following day and
demanded N5m for each of them.
The
gunmen were said to have also fired a warning shot while conversing with the
families on the telephone as the families reportedly begged, promising to pay
the ransoms.
It
was also reported on Monday that one of the schoolboys fell sick in the
kidnappers’ hideout, as the attackers warned the families to hurry on the
payment of the ransoms.
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.
A
source said the kidnappers gave them a 48-hour ultimatum to pay, as the
condition of the sick schoolboy had worsened.
He
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. They had come down from N3.5m to N1m ransom.
“The
boy’s family has been able to raise some money and they were begging the gunmen
to accept what they had. I hope the kidnappers will have mercy and consider the
condition of the sick pupil, and let him go.”
Another
source, close to the family of one of the victims, told PUNCH Metro that the family members had raised
three-quarter of the ransom, adding that the money was not sourced from the
government.
She
said, “It is true that they called to warn the parents that the boy’s health is
deteriorating. They told them to bring the ransom before Wednesday. The family
has been able to raise three-quarter of the money. They are rallying round for
the remaining sum. Nobody from any quarters is assisting them to raise the
ransom. They are begging the kidnappers and trying to meet the deadline.”
The
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said in a text
message on Monday that rescue operation was in progress.
Source:The Punch
Tags
Society