Abductors of three schoolgirls - Timilehin Olisa, Tofunmi Popoolaniyan and Deborah Akinayo - from Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary (BMJS) Ikorodu, Lagos have demanded N200 million as ransom.
The three, all in SS2, were stolen from their classroom where the were observing prep around 9:30pm on Monday.
It was learnt that Timilehin Olisa is the daughter of the one of the State’s Anglican School Management Board member.
The kidnappers contacted the father of one of the girls on Tuesday, demanding N200 million in exchange of the three students, it was learnt.
According to reports, the kidnappers got the number of the man they contacted from his daughter, and allegedly made it known that their target was the school.
The kidnappers had reportedly made a first call which was ended as soon as it was picked, before puting another call through to demand the N200m ransom.
An emergency meeting between the school’s management, victims’ parents and security agencies led by the Lagos State Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni was held there after.
According to reports, the meeting lasted till the early hours of Wednesday.
Three other meetings were held between 11am and 4:15pm with the school authorities, the combat squads and heads of intelligence agencies.
No news has been received as to whether the there would be a negotiation with the kidnappers of not.
It was gathered that the suspects’ location have been identified and several crack teams of military personnel, police and DSS and the local vigilante group known as ‘Oyabo’ have been deployed into their hideout.
Since the kidnapping, parents and teachers in the school have been raising their voices in prayers and classes did not resume until after 10am.
The school is currently home to many to security men who are patrolling within an outside the school.
Some parents who spoke on condition of anonymity blamed the management of the school for lack of adequate security.
They said on various occasions, the school management was advised to raise the school fence at the School of Science and Technology, but their suggestion was ignored.
But the school principal, Venerable Olaoluwa Adeyemi who looked very disturbed vented his anger on reporters whom he accused of sabotaging rescue efforts.
CP Owoseni also put forward the same line of argument, telling journalists who were within the premises to go as information will be communicated to them in due time.
After being pressured relentlessly by reporters, Adeyemi made a few comments.
“The girls have not been found till this moment and why do you want me to start addressing the press? Is that the only job we are going to do all day? People are busy searching for the girls while you are busy asking questions," he said.
He told the that they "cannot keep disturbing us here."
He urged them to all join in prayers.
"Honestly, you people are not helping matters. Infact, you’re adding to the problem by disturbing what people could have done at the right time," he said.
“The Deputy governor was here and we recounted the whole issue in her presence and the press men asked various questions. Both the Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Commissioner of Police has addressed the press but for everybody to be coming here as if this place is a pilgrimage area is not good enough.
He begged the journalists to respect people and the situation.
And warned them against wrong reportage.
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