After spending a week in captivity, pupils and teachers of Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti, have been released by their kidnappers.
They were five students and three female teachers.
However, Our correspondent learnt that the school bus driver, Taye Rasaki was killed by the abductors. "They burn the corpse of the driver, obviously because he could recognize them because he was a son of a popular cow meat seller in Emure Ekiti," a source said.
Unconfirmed report says that N16 million ransom was paid to before the pupils and their teachers were released by their abductors. A source also told Our correspondent that they were released at about 2am today..
The pupils and their teachers were kidnapped on Monday, January 26, 2024, when they were returning to Eporo Ekiti from their school in Emure Ekiti.
The kidnappers ambushed the bus along Emure – Eporo Road and opened fire. They then took away five students, three female teachers and the driver.
Nine persons comprising five students, three female teachers and a driver were among the occupants of the bus.
The kidnappers initially demanded N100 million for the release of the victims, but later agreed to collect N16 million after negotiations.
A video clip showed the freed pupils and their teachers sitting on the floor, looking exhausted and traumatized. A mother could be heard crying over the condition of her child.
A government official at Emure Ekiti confirmed the release of the abductees and said that they were reunited with their families. He also said that the state Ministry of Health officials were present to take them to Ado Ekiti for medical check-up.
Abutu Sunday, police spokesperson in Ekiti, who confirmed the development to Our correspondent, also disclosed that the driver of the bus was found dead.
“In the early hours of today around 1:30 am, the abducted children and their teacher were rescued by the team of police and other security agencies, including the locals hunters ,” Sunday said.
“Unfortunately, we lost the driver who is suspected of having been killed by the abductors.”
0 Comments