After profiling their family background, four pupils were released, while the assailants left with the remaining six pupils, identified as Peter Jonah, Isiaq Rahmon, Adebayo George, Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf, in a speedboat.
The kidnappers initially demanded N1bn ransom, but reduced it to N100m for all the children. They collected N10m from the parents and demanded additional N40m for their release.
The parents had protested at the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s office on Wednesday, June 7, accusing the government of indifference and asking it to facilitate the release of the children.
Despite repeated assurances from the Lagos State Government and the police to rescue the children, the parents said they were hoping for divine intervention.
To beef up security, the state government built a watchtower, installed Closed Circuit Television cameras around the school and promised 24 hours surveillance.
But some parents, who spoke with PUNCH Metro on Tuesday on condition of anonymity, said the measures were not enough to make them bring their children back to school.
They said they would continue to keep their children at home until the abducted pupils regained their freedom.
A parent, whose child is in Junior Secondary School 2, said, “My son is still at home. Even though the government said some security measures had been put in place, I am not satisfied, especially when those children have yet to be released.
“He will go back to the school, but not until his fellow pupils in captivity are freed. The government knows what to do to free them. Some parents have agreed to do this.”
A woman, whose daughter is in Senior Secondary School 1, said she was worried that the victims had not regained their freedom 26 days (Tuesday) after the abduction.
“I can’t just send my child back to the school when the ones kidnapped have not been released. It is not only my daughter that is at home, some parents and guardians have also agreed to wait till the pupils are released,” she added.
Another parent urged the government to consider several options in liberating the children, saying their safe return should take precedence.
She said, “I don’t see any reason why my son should resume in this circumstance. It is 26 days (Tuesday) since these children were abducted and we have not heard any good news.
“I think it is not enough to limit the rescue efforts to security agencies. Any ideal avenue to free these children should be considered because we don’t want to lose any of them.”
Efforts to get the reaction of the school proved abortive as calls put across to the telephone line of the Vice Principal, Academic, identified simply as Akinrinade, indicated that it was not reachable.
He had also yet to reply to a text message sent to him as of press time.
PUNCH