30th January, 2024
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Ekiti State has been thrown into a state of confusion after some unknown gunmen stormed the state to kidnap some schoolchildren.
The victims, which consisted of six pupils, three teachers, and their bus driver, were abducted while they were returning from Eporo-Ekiti on Monday night.
It was revealed that the victims are from the Apostolic Faith School, Ekiti.
Reacting to the incident, the Ekiti State Government called on residents of the state not to panic as security has been stepped up to rescue them.
“The Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji urged the citizens of the state not to despair over Monday’s kidnapping of some school pupils and their teachers in Emure- Ekiti.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Governor assured that efforts are on to rescue the children and their teachers.”
Oyebanji also described the kidnap as callous and unacceptable, saying nothing would be spared in the efforts to rescue them.
The Ekiti Government said “security agencies in the state are already on the trail of the abductors with a mandate to bring the pupils and their teachers back safely.
“Governor Oyebanji said security is being stepped up across the state to flush out criminal elements from their hideouts,” it added.
“While calling on the citizens to remain calm and vigilant, he urged them to cooperate with security agencies, by making available relevant information to the authorities,” he said.
Governor Oyebanji pledged a swift and comprehensive rescue operation to ensure the safe return of the abducted children.
This is coming hours after gunmen killed the Elesun of Esun Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and the Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olusola.
While the Alara of Ara Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Fatoba was said to have escaped death by the whiskers.
The three traditional rulers were traveling along the Oke-Ako road, in Ikole Local Government Area of the state when they were killed.
They were returning from a security meeting in Irele Ekiti when the gunmen struck.
The driver of the car, who is the Alara, was lucky to have escaped unhurt from the scene as he ran into the bush and later went back to the town to report the incident.
As of the time of filing this report, police and other relevant security forces, have reportedly been mobilised to address the situation promptly.