Kidnappers of five pupils and four teachers from a school in Ekiti state, south-west Nigeria, have demanded a ransom of 100 million naira ($110,000; £87,500) for their release after an attack on a school bus.
According to Gabriel Adesanya, the proprietor of the Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, the kidnappers have threatened unspecified actions against the schoolchildren if the ransom is not paid.
He expressed concern over the financial strain this demand places on the parents, stating, “Many of the parents cannot even afford one-tenth of the money.
It’s a pathetic situation for the school and the community. We have not been able to resume classes since the attack.”
A student who witnessed the attack recounted that it occurred after school hours, with the kidnappers instructing them to leave the bus before selecting their targets for abduction.
President Bola Tinubu has intervened, ordering the immediate rescue of the victims and pledging to prevent such incidents from happening again.
In response to the escalating insecurity, security chiefs have been summoned to appear before the senate next week to address the issue.
Kidnapping for ransom has become increasingly prevalent in Nigeria, with armed groups targeting road travelers, students, and residents in both rural and urban areas.
Source-BBC
