*As Kidnappers release abducted Ekiti pupils, teachers, kill driver
The Ekiti State Police Command, yesterday, paraded one Baboga Alhaji suspected for his alleged involvement in the killing of the two traditional rulers in Ikole area of the state last Monday.
Briefing journalists, the AIG in charge of Ekiti, Dare Ogundare, said the suspect was arrested in the forest between Ayedun and Ayebode by the combined efforts of police and other security agencies.
The AIG, who said no arrest was made during the rescue operation of the abducted school pupils and their teachers, added that some suspects had been arrested at Oke Osun, in Ikere Ekiti, Igbo Okah and Iju-Ikere boundary forest.
Ogundare denied payment of ransom to secure the release of the abducted victims, noting that that the Nigeria Police would never encourage ransom payment.
According to Ogundare, “In our bid to flush out criminal elements in the county following the killing of the two traditional rulers and abduction of pupils and teachers in the state, a combined team of the police, Amotekun and OPC embarked on a secret operation into the thick forest in Ikere.
“During the operation, five suspects were arrested and several dangerous weapons were recovered from them.
“The team further extended their operation through Emure-ekiti Forrest where eight other suspects were apprehended.
“During interrogation, a suspect named Babooga Alhaji admitted that he took part in the assassination of the two traditional rulers. He is currently giving credible information that will lead to the arrest of other gang leaders.”
Driver killed as abducted Ekiti pupils, teachers regain freedom
Meanwhile, the abducted pupils and teachers of Apostolic Faith Church Primary and Secondary School, Emure Ekiti, Ekiti State, have regained freedom from their kidnappers.
The pupils and their teachers numbering nine, who were taken away by gunmen from their bus alongside the bus driver on Emure-Eporo Road, last week Monday, regained freedom at 2a.m., yesterday.
Chairman of Emure Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Adebayo Oluwatosin, who confirmed this to newsmen in a telephone conversation, yesterday, said the driver of the school bus was killed while other eight regained their freedom
Oluwatosin did not disclose how the victims were rescued
Confirming the development, Ekiti State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu said: “All victims were rescued today about 1:30a.m., but unfortunately, we lost the driver who was suspectedly killed by the abductors.”
Oyebanji hails Tinubu, security agencies over release
Reacting to the release, Governor Biodun Oyebanji thanked President Bola Tinubu, the security agencies and Ekitikete for their support which led to the timely release of the kidnapped pupils of Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary school, Emure Ekiti.
Oyebanji, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, said: “Noting the traumatic experience of the children in the kidnappers’ den, Governor Oyebanji has directed the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani to take the children to the state Teaching Hospital in Ado Ekiti for proper medical treatment and post trauma therapy.”
Meanwhile, the governor, also visited the rescued pupils and teachers at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, where they were receiving treatment.
The students and their teachers were brought to the hospital from Emure Ekiti by the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Filani and some ministry officials, following the governor’s directive shortly after their release.
Oyebanji, who arrived the hospital a few hours later, had brief interaction with each of the students and their teachers at the Accident and Emergency Ward of the hospital.
The governor was received by the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Kayode Olabanji: and the lawmaker representing Emure constituency, Alhaja Mariam Ogunlade and some government officials.
Credit: Vanguard
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