Kidnappers have demanded the sum of N100 million for the release of the five pupils from Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti, and four staff who were abducted on Monday.
News About Nigeria reported that the abduction occurred as the school bus, transporting 25 pupils home after school hours, was ambushed by gunmen in the Emure community.
The kidnappers shot the vehicle’s tyre, forcing the children and staff to disembark.
Boje Olanireti, the principal of the secondary section of the school, confirmed the ransom demand in an interview with Punch on Tuesday.
According to Olanireti, the kidnappers selected five students—two from the secondary section and three from the primary section—and four staff members, including two teachers, one driver, and one bus assistant.
The remaining students were told to leave the scene.
The kidnappers subsequently contacted the family of one of the schoolchildren, demanding N10 million per victim.
However, when they spoke with the headmaster, the ransom demand was raised to N100 million for all the captives.
Chief Clement Akinola, the Aremo of Emure Kingdom, appealed to the state government for assistance in securing the release of the abducted children and staff.
Akinola, accompanied by the Emure Local Government Chairman and state government officials, visited the families of the victims at Eporo Ekiti.
Akinola called for the establishment of military posts along the boundaries between the Emure community and Ondo State to curb the rising incidents of kidnappings and other criminal activities.
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Police announced the arrest of five suspected kidnappers as part of a joint operation with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun, Odua Peoples Congress, and local hunters.
The suspects were apprehended during a bush combing operation in the Oke-Osun, Ikere/Igbo-Okah, and Iju/Ikere boundary areas.
The suspects claimed to be herdsmen, but investigations revealed they had no cattle in their possession.
Items found with them included two motorcycles, one cutlass, one jackknife/dagger, and four phones.
