In Search Of Teachers, Pupils Abducted In Ogun State, DSS, Police Begins Manhunt

Operatives of Ogun state Police Command, Director of State Security and Nigerian Army have begun manhunt on the kidnappers of abductors of some students and staff of Nigerian Turkish International Colleges, NTIC located in Isheri area of Ogun State.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi said, the Police have begun a manhunt for the kidnappers of eight students and staff of the school by gunmen.

It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the premises of the school located in a swampy area covered with bush around 9.20pm on Friday and made away with eight persons including three regular students and two others who were preparing for Joint Admission and Matriculation Board exams and three members of staff.

Oyeyemi said, the Police in conjunction with other sister agencies have been given a mandate to rescue the victims unhurt.

He said "It is true that some gunmen went to the school and kidnapped five staff and two students, all female.

"They went to the school last night (Friday) and kidnapped them. The Police have launched a massive manhunt on the kidnappers.

"The Police Commissioner and other sister security agencies have visited the scene and are working on the matter. The sole mandate is to rescue the victims unhurt".

The Principal of the school, Yunus Emre Dogan told  newsmen that the gunmen came into the school and started shooting sporadically.

Dogan said, the abductors immediately made their ways into the female hostel where three students were kidnapped alongside the house mistress and a Turkish teacher who teaches mathematics in the school.

He further said that three students  who were also studying for their JAMB exams were also taken away while a cook was also taken away from the kitchen.

According to him,  the abductors dug a big hole through the fence of the school from where they escaped through the bushy, swampy area.

Dogan explained this while playing host to the deputy governor of Ogun State, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga who led other members of Ogun State Executive Council to the school for an on-the-spot assessment.

Security operatives including the Assistant Commissioner of Police, AIG zone II, Kayode Oluranti; the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Ilyasu; the State Director of State Security, DSS, Kabiru Sanni, were all on hand to assess the situation.

Meanwhile, parents have insisted that the school would be shut down for two weeks within which they expected security measures to be put in place.

The parents who were still thronging the premises of the school as at time of filling this report said the remaining students have been traumatised and would need some brake before activities could pick in the school again.

One of the parents whose child was kidnapped, Ahmad Ajani said he got the news in the midnight and that his girl was involved.

Ajani who described the incident as sad and unfortunate said his child, Hanatullah Aderinto Ajani, 22, was in the school to study for the JAMB exams before the incident.

He said, "Somebody called in the midnight that something happened here and my daughter was involved, I had to come down this morning and the Police Commissioner addressed us assuring that they would work on it and that everything would be alright very soon.

"I am very sad but prayerful that the they are rescued on time, as I am standing, I am traumatised, you can imagine a girl of 22 preparing for University and somebody tool her away, it is a big loss."

Addressing the aggrieved parents, the Deputy Governor said the government was on top of the situation to ensure the safe return of the kidnapped students adding that the government had immediately put security measure on ground.

She said, "We are here to express our concern and sympathy. It is unfortunate that, this is happening barely few days on school resumption. When we heard about it, we quickly sprang into action, hence the urgent visit.

"Our government has put necessary security measure in place for the rescue of the abductees. Ogun State is already in action. Let me reassure you that we are going to rescue the victims soon."

She appealed for calm urging the parents not to take panic action by removing their children from the school.

"No doubt, it does happen once a while but it's unfortunate, the state is aware and we are doing the work, we will do all that is possible for the safe return of the children. The FG is aware and they have also assured us that very soon, they would be rescued.

"It's not the time to start taking children out of the schools, the security operatives are all on ground to ensure safety of life and property of the school. We will do all that is possible to make sure the school is safe and the school authority is also doing what is possible to ensure that the state is safe."

Another parent, Funmi Tijani blamed the management of the school institution for not putting up enough security measures including lighting up the area.

She said, "We parents jointly resolved and agreed that we have to take away our children at least for the first one week, until we are convinced about perfect security arrangement in place.

"The road is not tarred, no security light, bushes all around, last year, the school was closed down for two weeks because of flood. What we are saying is that 'let there be adequate security.

"We are taking our Children away, we've agreed amongst ourselves to take our children away for a week, my daughter saw them, witnessed the whole scenario and she's traumatised, psychological, they are not balanced, you don't expect me to leave her behind."

As at time of filling his report, both the management and parents’ have said that they are yet to be contacted by the kidnappers.