Read the press statement below...
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi
Ambode has assured that the government
would utilise the academic break to
reinforce security in all schools in the
State, especially in the suburb and riverine
areas to prevent any incidence of
kidnapping.
The Governor, who spoke through the
State’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Mrs. Oluranti
Adebule while receiving the six students
of Igbonla Model College who were
rescued on Friday, said he remains totally
committed to ensuring the security of all
residents especially students and would
spare nothing to ensure that schools
remain safe from all forms of crime and
criminality.
He said: “The issue of security is a social
contract that we have signed with the
people of Lagos and we would ensure
that we do not disappoint. As far as our
schools are concerned, we are going back
to the drawing board to ensure that all
that need to be done in terms of securing
our schools before the next academic
session is done”.
Governor Ambode, who commended the
collaborative efforts by security agencies
from Lagos and Ondo States, specially
thanked the Acting President, Professor
Yemi Osinbajo for his interventions
towards ensuring the safe rescue of the
students.
Presenting the rescued students to the
media, he said they would be debriefed
and taken through comprehensive
medical tests so as to ensure that they
recover from the trauma they might have
passed through while in the custody of
their abductors.
Also speaking, Ondo State Governor, Mr.
Rotimi Akeredolu commended Acting
President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor
Ambode for working tirelessly on the
matter, saying that the duo demonstrated
uncommon interest in the whole process
leading to the safe return of the students.
Akeredolu said he never believed the
kidnappers could be hibernating in Ondo
creeks until he was told about a month
ago during the National Economic Council
(NEC) Meeting in Abuja by Osinbajo, and
later Governor Ambode, while he
immediately deployed his deputy, Mr
Alfred Agboola who is from the riverine
areas in Ondo, to take up the matter.
He said Agboola immediately swung into
action and worked with the Delta State
Deputy Governor, as well as security
agencies to ensure safe return of the
students.
While acknowledging the role of Governor
Ambode, Akeredolu said: “I must
commend Governor Ambode for his
commitment to the rescue of the students.
At the meeting of Western Nigeria
Governors’ forum held in Abeokuta on
Monday, we discussed the issue of the
students and Governor Ambode
mentioned the issue of joint security
patrol in our riverine areas.
“He (Governor Ambode) was very
committed to it and he expressed
readiness to support with the needed
resources.
Throughout the days the students were in
captivity, the Lagos State Governor never
kept his eyes off the ball and he kept
working on it until today that we have the
students back,” Akeredolu said.
On his part, the Lagos State Commissioner
of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni said 20 of the
kidnappers died during gun duel with
security forces, while eight policemen and
four civilian volunteers sustained injuries.
He, however, disclosed that one civilian
volunteer unfortunately died in the
process of rescuing the students.
The CP also said that a suspect, who
attempted to capitalize on the situation to
swindle the parents of the students by
asking that they should bring ransom to
Abeokuta, was arrested and is currently in
police custody.
Besides, the police chief praised the South
West Governors for demonstrating clear
commitment to combat crime in the
region, saying that the communiqué
issued in Abeokuta with respect to
creation of Joint Security Task Force for
the region, is already yielding positive
result.
SIGNED
HABIB ARUNA
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
JULY 29, 2017
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