(Photos) Tears as gunmen abduct six Lagos pupils from Lagos school

 Gunmen took advantage of security lapses around creeks in Igbonla, Epe, on Thursday to abduct six pupils of Igbonla Model College, Epe, Lagos.

This came seven months after four pupils and two members of staff of the college were kidnapped in October 2016.

It was learnt that the gunmen gained entry into the school premises around 6am on Thursday through the creek at the back of the college.


They were said to have pulled down the school fence and headed for the boys’ hostel, seizing 10 Senior Secondary School pupils.

Four of the pupils were later released at the waterside by the assailants after profiling their parents’ details.

They escaped with the remaining six pupils, identified as Peter Jonah, Isiaq Rahmon, Adebayo George, Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the gunmen had shot into the air around 8pm on Wednesday while the pupils were having a prep, but went back after policemen and soldiers fired back.

They struck after the operatives had left the school in the dawn.

A Senior Secondary School 2 pupil, who gave his name only as Daniel, said he was having his bath when the gunmen stormed the premises.

He said, “A friend saw two of them through the window and rushed to tell me that kidnappers had come again. Immediately we raised the alarm, they entered into our hostel, broke the doors and started dragged some pupils out. I hid in the bathroom.”

Another pupil, who did not want his name in print, said, the gunmen took their time to carry out the operation.

“Two of them broke down our doors and told us to lie down. They didn’t use masks and one of them wore a police uniform. They asked if we had phones, but we said no. After picking some pupils, they packed some of our belongings, including sandals. Isiaq (Rahmon) resisted following them until they slapped him.
“While we were doing our homeworks on Wednesday, they shot into the air, but our teachers told us not to panic. They left because policemen and military men were on the ground,” he added.

A Junior Secondary School 2 pupil, who was ill and admitted to the school’s sickbay said,

“When they came, they were shooting. I jumped from my sickbed and hid under the bed. Everybody was scared.”

A Punch correspondent observed as parents thronged the school to pick their children, ignoring the school authorities’ assurance that the pupils were safe.

Some parents of the abducted pupils were inconsolable as they broke down in tears.