Epe Students Kidnap: Parents Resolve To Pay Ransom, Accuse Govt Of Negligence

The parents said they resorted to raising the funds themselves to facilitate the release of the children, after the Lagos State government allegedly abandoned them to their plight, the Premium Times reports.

“What we wanted to do as parents was to beg them to listen to us so we can give them whatever we could raise,” said one of the parents, who craved to be anonymous.

“But they said ‘No’, they only wanted to negotiate with the government. They said they don’t want the stipend that we could raise.

“But now we have to raise the fund. We are raising whatever we can. Or what are we going to do?”

The kidnappers had earlier called some parents of the victims demanding N400m each from two parents while two others were asked to pay N100m each.

However, the sum was later reduced to N100m for all the children, one of the parents confirmed.

The Lagos State Government made it clear that they are not negotiating with the kidnappers, as they believe the pupils will be freed by the security agencies.

Three suspects were last week arrested in connection with the attack, but another parent who confirmed anonymity said they had lost patience with the government.

“It is already nine days today and our children are still in captivity despite the government’s assurance to rescue them. Our minds will not be at rest without seeing these children, the parent said.

“The kidnappers are now demanding N100m and they insist we should meet with the school authorities and the state government to pay. But they said they would not pay any ransom.

“All the parents have met again and we have decided to raise whatever amount we can through individual contributions. We have asked ourselves to call on friends and relatives to assist.”

Recall that heavily armed gunmen stormed the school premises at about 6am on Thursday, May 25, and whisked away with six pupils through the water where their speedboat was stationed.

The six pupils identified as Peter Jonah, Isiaq Rahmon, Adebayo George, Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf.