The
kidnappers contacted the parents, demanding N400 million ransom.
The suspects
are believed to be members of a gang that is behind kidnappings in Epe and its
environs.
The gang is believed to have been involved in the kidnapping of the
Oniba of Iba and pupils and workers of the Turkish International School in
Isheri North of Ogun State.
Egelu
Endurance, 25, aka Jubby, Stanley Yomi Irabomini (Powei), 25, and Bentel
Endurance, 24— all from Ovia South Local Government Area of Edo State — were
arrested on Tuesday in Benin City by the Inspector General of Police (IGP)
Intelligence Response Team (IRT).The IRT operatives, led by Abba Kyari, an
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), arrested the suspects when they (the
suspects) visited an injured colleague.He was said to have been injured during
a gun battle with the police. It could not be ascertained where the gun battle
took place.The suspects, according to sources, had confessed to participating
in several high profile kidnappings in the South.They may have told detectives
where the kidnapped pupils are held.A source said:
“They
confessed to having participated in various kidnappings of prominent
personalities in Lagos and Ogun states, including the Oniba of Iba, the Turkish
School pupils, the Isheri landlords and the Epe school children.“The suspects
claimed they came to Benin to see their injured colleague and also to relax for
a while before going back to the creeks. Serious efforts to arrest the
remaining gang members and rescue the school children are in progress.”Also
yesterday, the pupils’ parents said they had not heard from the kidnappers
again. According to them, the telephone number they used to contact them was no
longer going through.Yesterday at the House of Representatives, members
commended the police for the swift response to the abduction of the kids. This
was sequel to a motion by Hon. Tasir Olawale Raji from Lagos.
The
lawmakers also called on Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris to spare no
effort towards the rescue of the kidnaped pupils as soon as possible and to put
measures in place to prevent its reoccurrence.Also yesterday, a member of the
Lagos State House of Assembly Segun Olulade, appealed to the kidnappers to
release the pupils.Olulade (Epe Constituency II), said the pupils were innocent
and should not be going through such ordeal.“It is a sad incident that we have
not been able to recover from. We have been talking with the affected parents.
We share the pains of the parents and their concerns; we know it is not easy.
We want to appeal to those involved in this nefarious act to please release these
innocent children. The kidnappers should consider the pains of the victims’
parents and relations.
“We
call on all parents, especially mothers, to join us to pray for the safety of
these children. The government and the security agencies are frantically
working to ensure their release,” he said.Olulade urged the security operatives
to do more to stamp out criminality in the state, saying: “We appreciate the
efforts of the security agencies and we know they can still do more; we want
them to continue to protect lives and property according to their mandate. We
believe that they have all it takes to do the needful.
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