Joy and Sorrow as Kidnapped Ekiti Schoolchildren and Teachers Return Home
Emure-Ekiti: After a week of agony and uncertainty, five students and three teachers of the Apostolic Faith Group of School, Emure-Ekiti, who were kidnapped by gunmen last Monday, have been released by their captors.
The victims, who were abducted on their way back from school, were freed in the early hours of Sunday, following negotiations between the kidnappers and the families of the abductees.
However, the joy of their reunion was marred by the tragic death of the driver of the school bus, Taye Rasaki, who was killed by the gunmen.
The kidnappers had initially demanded N100 million ransom for each of the nine hostages, but later reduced it to N15 million for all of them, threatening to kill them if the money was not paid on time.
It is not clear how much ransom was eventually paid or if any security operation was involved in securing their release.
The Chairman of Emure Local Government Area, Adebayo Oluwatosin, who confirmed the development, said that the victims were currently in the palace of the Elemure of Emure Ekiti, where they were receiving medical attention and counselling.
He expressed his gratitude to God for sparing their lives and commiserated with the family of the deceased driver.
He also called on the state and federal governments to beef up security in the area and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Ekiti State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, also confirmed the rescue of the victims, but lamented the loss of the driver.
He said that the police were still investigating the incident and would not relent until the culprits were arrested and prosecuted.
He urged the public to cooperate with the police by providing useful information that could help in curbing the menace of kidnapping and other crimes in the state.
