Kidnapped School Children Parents Storm Ambode’s Office

Parents of the kidnapped students of the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe, stormed the office of the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday and demanded the release of their abducted children.

Six students were abducted from their hostels about 14 days ago by gunmen in police uniform.

The parents, some of whom could not hold back tears, said the kidnappers informed them on Tuesday that four of their children are now sick.

The kidnappers also told the parents they would no longer negotiate or allowed them to speak with the children, insisting that they wanted to negotiate with the government.

The parents urged the state government to do something urgently about their children’s plights.

A woman, who craved for anonymity, begged the government to get her child identified as Isiaka out of the kidnappers’ den.

Mrs. Toyin Philips, mother of one of the abducted students, Pelumi, wept profusely and demanded government’s intervention in the matter.

She said: “I want my son back. I sent my son to the school because there was no money. If I had the money they are demanding for, would I have sent my son to that school?”

“We are the one negotiating with the kidnappers. The kidnappers said they wanted N100 million. Government, please, don’t let our children die. Ensure their release today,” lamented another parent, Mrs. Agbaosi, whose son Judah, was among those kidnapped.

The Spokesman of the parents, Mr. Dapo Adesega, lamented that their children had been with the kidnappers for 14 days and that government had not deemed it necessary to communicate with them.

“If you don’t communicate with us, how do we know that government cares for our plight? If we had not come here today, we won’t have heard anything from the government,” he told government officials sent to address them.

“Nobody from the government has come to us since the incident occurred two weeks ago. We did not come here with placards because we want government to help us. Please, government should help us. We have been trying to negotiate with the kidnappers but they rejected our offer because it is too small.”