Amosun Receives Rescued Turkish School Students, Staff

• Police arrest kidnap suspect, recover ransom
Sheriff Balogun in Abeokuta and Chiemelie Ezeobi 

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday received students and staff of the Nigerian Turkish International Colleges (NTIC), who were kidnapped by gunmen from the school recently.

The governor who also received parents of the students, management of the school and, security agencies congratulated the school and parents on their safe return.

Amosun who said immediately the news of the kidnap came in that he has been in constant communication with the president on the issue, noted that he became worried when the rescue exercise was taking longer than necessary.

He said: “I congratulate the school and felicitate with their parents on the safe return of their staff and children. I can imagine the trauma you would have gone through. Sincerely, everybody was worried and I personally became even more worried when the rescue efforts were taking longer than necessary.

“When the issue happened, I was not around but when I was informed, I called the attention of the president to it. Even last Sunday, I still spoke with him and we had hoped that by Monday, they would be released. I mounted serious pressure on the police; I met with security agencies involved in the rescue operation more than five time, an so when the AIG came here last Tuesday, he assured me that in the next 24 hours, the abducted will be released, and I am happy they are all back alive.”

The governor, therefore, said the safe rescue of the victims was a good birthday gift for him, noting that issues of kidnappers will henceforth be handled and treated like that of the Boko Haram sect.

He added that the state would rejig the security arrangement around the schools, especially those with boarding facilities in the state.

“Mapping of the schools will be done and other tight security measures would be put in place to prevent such occurrence, and private school owners should collaborate with the state government on proper security arrangement.

“We will go after these criminals; hunt them down and I assure you that your abductors will pay for the crime they have committed. We don’t want people to have the feelings that Ogun State is not safe, hence, the perpetrators of this crime will not go unpunished,” he said.

Meanwhile, barely hours after the abducted students and staff were released, the police yesterday succeeded in arresting one of the suspects.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone II, Kayode Aderanti, who made this disclosure during an interaction with journalists in his office, said the police arrested the suspect as he was leaving the creeks.

Although he denied knowledge of the payment of N50 million by the school and the parents as ransom, THISDAY gathered that the police were able to recover part payment of the ransom from the arrested kidnapper.

While noting that he had no idea of any ransom payment, he insisted that the kidnappers succumbed to superior pressure from the police and released their victims.

According to him, the police would make some shocking revelations in a couple days, which he believe would contain the whole details about the kidnapping gang and their modus operandi.
Aderanti said the kidnappers gave up after they realised that their identities were known by policemen, adding that some of their relatives were held to pressure them into releasing the victims

Although Aderanti declined to give further details on the arrest, it was gathered that the suspect was picked in Lagos as soon as he fled the creek where the victims were held.
It was gathered that the suspect had in his possession some of the ransom paid by parents and relatives of the victims.

Aderanti said: “The victims were taken to a hospital in Ikeja. All the victims are in good health and the school management on Wednesday took them to meet with the Ogun State Governor. I am not aware if any ransom was paid.

“Police was not involved in ransom. It is complete falsehood to say the police didn’t do anything to rescue the victims.

“It is wrong for anyone to say the police took glory for what it didn’t do. I think the problem the Nigeria Police faces is that of lack of trust and poor perception.

“Myself and my team haven’t slept in days because of this issue. We were working day and night and so many relatives of the kidnappers were held. We mounted so much pressure on them.

“The IG, Idris Ibrahim, deployed so many special forces and gadgets to ensure the rescue of these victims. The kidnappers knew that their cover had been blown.
“ Already, we have arrested one of the kidnappers who fled the creek. More revelations would be made soon.

“On our side, we are putting in place strategies to contain such issues. I have had meetings with strategic commanders from the marine, operations and rapid response squad for about two hours today (Wednesday).

“We have invigorated marine patrol with more boats on the waterways to intercept criminals. There are so many things the police would unfold.

“Even the schools have their blames but I can assure you it would no longer be business as usual. These schools must ensure that security measures are put in place.”