Ten days after the abduction of six pupils of the Lagos State Model College , Igbonla , Epe, affected parents say they have become weary of the government ’s pledge to rescue the Children without paying Ransom .
RULERZLAND BLOG gathered that the parents have resorted to self - help by organising a committee among themselves to raise funds to facilitate the release of the children .
Our correspondent learnt that the money would be raised through contributions by each parent as well as aid from relations and friends .
The kidnappers, it was gathered , are currently requesting N100m ransom to free all the children .
The gunmen stormed the school premises at about 6 am on Thursday , May 25 , after notifying the school authorities of the attack three days earlier .
They broke the hostel doors, seized 10 senior secondary school pupils and led them to a waterside where their boat was anchored .
After profiling their family backgrounds, four pupils were released , while the assailants whisked away the remaining six pupils identified as Peter Jonah , Isiaq Rahmon , Adebayo George , Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf in a speedboat .
The kidnappers had earlier called some parents of the victims on Saturday , May 27 , demanding N400 m each from two parents while two others were asked to pay N100 m each . They told the parents to meet with the school authorities and the state government to pay the ransom .
Three days after , the kidnappers called back and reduced the ransom to N600 m , with parents of each child asked to pay N100 m . According to the parents , the abductors are now demanding N100 m for all the children .
However , the Lagos State Government had declined ransom negotiation with the kidnappers, insisting that they would be freed by the security agencies .
Although three suspects had been arrested , some parents who spoke to our correspondent on Saturday said they had lost patience with the government .
A parent , who did not want her name in print, said , “ It is already nine days today ( Saturday) , and our children are still in captivity despite the government ’ s assurance to rescue them . Our minds will not be at rest without seeing these children .
“ The kidnappers are now demanding N100m and they insist we should meet with the school authorities and the state government to pay . But they said they would not pay any ransom .
“ All the parents have met again and we have decided to raise whatever amount we can through individual contributions . We have asked ourselves to call on friends and relatives to assist . ”
Another parent said an agreement was also reached that whoever the kidnappers contacted, thenceforth , should negotiate on behalf of other parents .
“ We have formed a committee and chosen a parent to coordinate the contributions . We are poor , but we cannot fold our arms while safety of our children are in danger . There is a parent that sells drinks . She said the highest she could raise was N50 ,000 . She said she was the one taking care of the family , ” the parent added .
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer , ASP Olarinde Famous- Cole , said the command disapproved of the parents ’ move to raise the ransom , adding that efforts to free the victims had been intensified .
He said , “ We are using intelligence report to get those pupils rescued safely . Apart from this , there is no information we can share for now . The command is not aware of the parents ’ move and does not encourage payment of ransom .”
Calls put across to the mobile phone of the state ’ s Commissioner for Information and Strategy , Steve Ayorinde , on Saturday rang out. He had also yet to reply to a text message sent to him as of time of filing this report.
RULERZLAND BLOG gathered that the parents have resorted to self - help by organising a committee among themselves to raise funds to facilitate the release of the children .
Our correspondent learnt that the money would be raised through contributions by each parent as well as aid from relations and friends .
The kidnappers, it was gathered , are currently requesting N100m ransom to free all the children .
The gunmen stormed the school premises at about 6 am on Thursday , May 25 , after notifying the school authorities of the attack three days earlier .
They broke the hostel doors, seized 10 senior secondary school pupils and led them to a waterside where their boat was anchored .
After profiling their family backgrounds, four pupils were released , while the assailants whisked away the remaining six pupils identified as Peter Jonah , Isiaq Rahmon , Adebayo George , Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf in a speedboat .
The kidnappers had earlier called some parents of the victims on Saturday , May 27 , demanding N400 m each from two parents while two others were asked to pay N100 m each . They told the parents to meet with the school authorities and the state government to pay the ransom .
Three days after , the kidnappers called back and reduced the ransom to N600 m , with parents of each child asked to pay N100 m . According to the parents , the abductors are now demanding N100 m for all the children .
However , the Lagos State Government had declined ransom negotiation with the kidnappers, insisting that they would be freed by the security agencies .
Although three suspects had been arrested , some parents who spoke to our correspondent on Saturday said they had lost patience with the government .
A parent , who did not want her name in print, said , “ It is already nine days today ( Saturday) , and our children are still in captivity despite the government ’ s assurance to rescue them . Our minds will not be at rest without seeing these children .
“ The kidnappers are now demanding N100m and they insist we should meet with the school authorities and the state government to pay . But they said they would not pay any ransom .
“ All the parents have met again and we have decided to raise whatever amount we can through individual contributions . We have asked ourselves to call on friends and relatives to assist . ”
Another parent said an agreement was also reached that whoever the kidnappers contacted, thenceforth , should negotiate on behalf of other parents .
“ We have formed a committee and chosen a parent to coordinate the contributions . We are poor , but we cannot fold our arms while safety of our children are in danger . There is a parent that sells drinks . She said the highest she could raise was N50 ,000 . She said she was the one taking care of the family , ” the parent added .
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer , ASP Olarinde Famous- Cole , said the command disapproved of the parents ’ move to raise the ransom , adding that efforts to free the victims had been intensified .
He said , “ We are using intelligence report to get those pupils rescued safely . Apart from this , there is no information we can share for now . The command is not aware of the parents ’ move and does not encourage payment of ransom .”
Calls put across to the mobile phone of the state ’ s Commissioner for Information and Strategy , Steve Ayorinde , on Saturday rang out. He had also yet to reply to a text message sent to him as of time of filing this report.
