Outrage as kidnappers of Ekiti schoolchildren demand N100m ransom

Governor Biodun Oyebanji

Outrage as kidnappers of Ekiti schoolchildren demand N100m ransom

Abductors of schoolchildren have contacted the families of kids demanding N100 million as ransom to release them and other victims.

A source close to the family of one of the children said the kidnappers reached out to them on Tuesday evening, asking for the money in exchange for the freedom of their victims.

Six pupils, three teachers and the driver of a private school bus in Ekiti State were on Monday night kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.

They were abducted while returning from Eporo-Ekiti on the school bus.

Their kidnap came barely hours after two monarchs, the Onimojo of Imojo in Oye Local Government Area, Oba Olatunde Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area, Oba Babatunde Ogunsakin were killed by gunmen along Ipao-Oke Ako Road while their colleague, the Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba in Ikole Local Government Area, managed to escape.

It was gathered that the kidnapped pupils were students of Apostolic Nursery and Primary School, Emure-Ekiti in Ekiti State.

Rep weeps at plenary

The abduction of schoolchildren and the killing of monarchs in Ekiti has caused deep distress for Akin Rotimi, the member of the House of Representatives representing Oye/Ikole Federal Constituency. He broke down in tears while addressing the issues in parliament, calling for urgent security intervention to address the escalating criminal activity in Ekiti State, especially in Ekiti North 1 (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency.

During his address, Rotimi recounted the recent attack in the Oke-Ako area, where two traditional rulers, the Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti and the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, were brutally murdered. He highlighted the urgent need for security intervention to prevent further attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice. The House of Representatives resolved to deploy soldiers to the Oke-Ako area and urged the Chief of Army Staff to enhance security measures