Indications emerged yesterday that the kidnappers
of three schoolgirls of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary (BMJS), Ikorodu,
Lagos might have reduced the ransom amount.
Timilehin Olusa, Tofunmi Popoolaniyan and Deborah
Akinayo were kidnapped from the classrooms on Monday night.
It was learnt that the criminals who made another
contact at about 2a.m with one of the victims’ parents, reduced the amount to
N10million from the N200million they initially demanded.
Some parents who were at the school premises to
see their wards told our reporter yesterday that they were briefed by the
authorities that negotiations were ongoing and that the girls were healthy.
This development however contradicts earlier
claims that one of the girls had taken ill.
Father of one of the
kidnapped girls Ven Victor Ayo Olusa, said they are praying for their release.
The cleric, who is also
the Executive Secretary, Lagos Anglican School Management Board, which oversees
the running of the schools owned by the Anglican communion, including BMJS,
said: “The update is that they are still in the kidnappers den and we are
trusting God; and the church is praying and the security agencies are
working. We are putting our faith in God.”
It was learnt that the
abductors also gave the school specific location to drop the agreed ransom.
According to the parents
who refused to be named, the school was hopeful and prayers were been
intensified “so that God will touch the kidnappers to release the girls
unhurt.”
They said the security
forces had advised the school authority to be calm and avoid giving out
information on the issue because some of the kidnappers might be hanging around
to give feedback those suspected to be hiding in the creeks.
Sources said the
criminals might have taken the girls to the Arepo Creeks. But this could not be
confirmed
It was also learnt that
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase has deployed the Quick Response
Team (QRT),to join the Lagos Police team to rescue the girls.
“We came to see our
children. They told us that they were negotiating. They did tell us what has
been offered nor what was agreed on. But the school assured that the abducted
girls are well and will return safely,” said one of the parents..
....thenation
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