Voice Air Media, News Update

Gunmen have abducted six pupils and three teachers of a private school in Emure, headquarters of Emure local government area of Ekiti state.

The incident happened the same day armed men shot dead two traditional rulers in the Oke-Ako axis of Ikole local government area of the state.

It was gathered the school bus conveying the pupils and the teachers including the driver was waylaid by the kidnappers at about 5pm on Monday, January 29, along Eporo-Ekiti road.

Sources said the kidnappers accosted the bus conveying the victims at a bad spot on the road and whisked them to the forest, leaving the bus on the road.

“They were kidnapped after their school bus was intercepted in Eporo Ekiti, at a location that shares a boundary with Ondo state on Monday evening,” the source said.

The police spokesman, Sunday Abutu could not be reached for reaction as of the time of filing this report on Tuesday.

Confirming the incident, the Ekiti state governor, Biodun Oyebanji urged the citizens of the state not to despair over the kidnapping of the school pupils and their teachers.

He assured that efforts are in top gear to get the children and their teachers as well as the drivers rescued unhurt.

The governor, who described the kidnapping of the school pupils, as callous and unacceptable, said nothing would be spared in the efforts to rescue them.

According to a statement by the governor’s special adviser on media, security agencies in the state are already on the trail of the abductors with a mandate to bring the pupils and their teachers back safely.

Governor Oyebanji said security is being stepped up across the state to flush out criminal elements from their hideouts.

While calling on the citizens to remain calm and vigilant, he urged them to cooperate with security agencies, by making available relevant information to the authorities.