By Lucy Osuizigbo
Lagos – The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule on Thursday, promised that the government and security agencies would work with available resources to ensure the release of the persons abducted in a school in Epe area of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Principal, a teacher and four students were abducted at Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe in Lagos at about 8 a.m on Thursday.
Adebule, who visited the school, appealed to the public and parents to have confidence and faith in the security agencies as they work to rescue the abducted persons.
“The school was established 29 years ago and something like this has never happened. Now that it has happened, it is so unfortunate and challenging.
“As parents and administrators, we are agitated, traumatised and worried, but we need to join hands with the government and security agencies so that we can rescue the victims.
“Many parents are here to take their children away. That cannot solve the problem. Taking them away will demoralise these children and affect their learning.
“Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode has directed all security agencies to do their best within the shortest time to rescue the abducted persons.
“I’m pleading for your understanding and cooperation as we work with security agencies to secure these children and the school environment,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr Fatai Owoseni, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, who confirmed the situation, said that six students were abducted but two were found in the bush during a rescue search.
Owoseni said the security agencies would ensure that the remaining six persons were rescued alive just as they rescued the three school girls abducted in Ikorodu area.
While soliciting for the support of the parents, Owoseni said security agencies were already in custody of useful leads, adding that there was a strong hope of rescuing the victims soon.
According to him, a rescue operation has been launched and this will be the shortest in the history of the Command.
“I assure that we will do everything humanly possible to ensure the rescue of the victims
‘A team of security operatives will stay behind in the school to secure the students and teachers, “Owoseni said.
NAN reports that parents thronged the school premises to take away their children.
Some of the parents refused to go home when security agents asked them to go; they maintained that they wanted to go home with their children.
Mr Felix Agbarah, a parent, told NAN that they wanted the school to be closed until the abducted persons were rescued.
Another parent, Ms Ife Aramide, said that she came to take her child home as the school was no longer safe for the students.
Mr Laz Eke said that they had been complaining about the security situation around the school but nothing was done.
NAN also reports that aa similar incident occurred seven months ago, precisely, on Feb. 29, when three female students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School, Ikorodu, were kidnapped by gunmen.
They were later rescued.