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| Front gate of Nigerian Turkish International Colleges, Isheri, Ogun State |
Kidnappers that stormed
the Nigerian Turkish International Colleges have contacted the family of a
matron who was abducted on Friday along with three pupils, a Turkish teacher
and a school supervisor, demanding ₦100m ransom.
PUNCH Metro report continues:
The
kidnappers called the matron’s husband in the early hours of Sunday and advised
him against involving the police in the negotiation.
This
is just as the management of the school said it would engage the service of a
private outfit to beef up security on the premises.
Some
gunmen had invaded the college premises around 9pm on Friday through a hole
they dug under the school fence and headed for the female hostel, shooting
continuously.
They
whisked away three pupils, two intending Unified Tertiary Matriculation
Examination candidates, who also worked in the school, and three other staff
members, including the matron.
It
was gathered that a combined team of operatives from the Ogun State Police
Command, the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team and other
security agencies had been patrolling the school surroundings and creeks, with
a view to rescuing the victims.
Despite
assurance from security agents and the management, panic-stricken parents
stormed the school on Saturday to pick their children, who were said to have
been traumatized by the attack.
A
source close to the matron’s family disclosed to reporters on Sunday
that the kidnappers had requested the husband to liaise with families of other
victims to raise ₦100m ransom.
The
source said, “The kidnappers called her (matron’s) husband early this morning
(Sunday) and demanded ₦100m for the release of all the victims. He has been
warned not to play smart. They are insisting on the sum for now.
“We
are worried, but we have belief in God. We hope God will touch their heart to
free all the victims. The police are also assuring us that they are on top of
the situation.”
A
police source also confirmed the ransom to our correspondent, saying, “I learnt
they have also contacted the school.”
But
the spokesperson for the school, Cemal Yigit, denied any communication with the
kidnappers, stating that the management was relying on the efforts of the
security agencies.
He
said, “There is no update of such (negotiation). We are in collaboration with
security officials. We are being guided by them and we are doing whatever they
ask us to do. We are not acting on our own.
“There
are security officials everywhere around the school. We have security light.
Everywhere is fixed with cameras. Every single step of those attackers is
captured in the Closed Circuit Television.
“Everything
is being re-arranged and most probably we are going to make a deal with a
serious security company. We have also learnt to increase the security measures
from the government’s side from now on. Our priority now is the safe return of
everybody.”
The
Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the
command was not aware of any demand for ransom, stating that the victims would
be rescued soon.
He said, “Our focus is to
secure the release of the victims and get those hoodlums arrested. We are
working towards that and we believe that very soon we are going to get them.”
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