Igbonla Model College reopens for academic activities after 10 days of kidnap

Ten days after six pupils of Model College, Igbonla, Epe area of Lagos, activities resumes  for academic activities for the first time after the kidnap with tight security mounted by the police to forestall further kidnap.

The Permanent Secretary,  Ministry of Education,  Mr. Adesina Odeyemi and the Tutor-general / Permanent Secretary,  Mrs Margaret Solarin were at the school for first hand assessment of the situation.

Also, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni and Divisional Commander of Neighborhood Safety Corps,  Mr. Semi Lateef were also on ground to further ensure safety.

Owoseni said he came to observe the resumption trend. He said that the security agencies were working to ensure the safe return of the abducted children but were being careful with the use of force.

The principal of the Senior School, Mr. Bajo Olugbenga was optimistic that more parents would bring their children and wards.

“There was calm and serenity, teaching and learning was going on. There was no sign of apprehension or anxiety in the staff and students who were seen going about their normal activities. SSS III Science students were seen doing their physics practical of the NECO examination,” a source said.

Armed security operatives were on patrol while some were on ground to ensure safety while contractors were also seen working on the construction of watch towers which would be mounted with surveillance cameras that would be manned twenty four hours to ensure that intruders could be located from afar before they wreck havoc.

Apart from the watch towers, the perimeter wall fence is being illuminated with forty 250watts halogen lamps for security survey through out the night. Bush adjoining the perimeter fence has been cleared while armed security operatives will be deployed permanently to man the school.

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode had promised during the Children’s Day celebration that his government would stop at nothing to ensure the safe return of the abducted children of the school.

Represented by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, the governor said the State would not be intimidated to abandon his avowed pursuit of academic and physical development of the children of the State.

Some students who craved anonymity appealed to the abductors of their colleagues to release them unhurt as they were only children who could not have contributed to whatever was the grouse of the kidnappers.

They urged parents to have confidence in the government and God and bring their colleagues to school for their academic pursuit to continue.