*Visits victims in hospital, condoles deceased’s family
*Thanks Tinubu, security agencies
*FCT state minister visits home of Abuja’s latest victim, assures residents of security
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, yesterday, vowed that the kidnappers of some pupils of the Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary school, Emure Ekiti, who just regained their freedom after about two weeks in their den, would not go unpunished.
Oyebanji, who visited the children and their teachers at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, however, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the security agencies for the eventual release of the pupils.
The children and their teachers, who were released late yesterday, and brought to the Elemure palace around 4am, however, lost the school bus driver, who was reportedly killed in the custody of the kidnappers.
In another development, the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, yesterday, paid a sympathy visit to the family of Al-Kadriyar Mansoor, whose daughters were recently released after being held captive by kidnappers for several days, and promised residents of their security.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the visit, the Oyenbanji praised the resilience of the children and expressed gratitude to God for their safe return.
He assured the people of the state that his administration would not rest on its oars in ensuring that criminal elements were flushed out of the state.
The governor said he remained committed to the security of lives and property of citizens of the state and would continue to collaborate with relevant security agencies and the traditional institution in the war against criminals.
“We thank God for their safe return. I am excited and I give glory to God. I also thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his swift response and for giving specific directives.
“His intervention made the difference and I am thankful to him on behalf of Ekiti people. I am also thankful to the security chiefs for their support.
“They all put resources together and mobilised men and materials to ensure we rescue the children. All I can say is that we shall go after the criminals and we shall get them,” he added.
Noting the traumatic experience of the children in the kidnappers’ den, Oyebanji directed the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani, to take the children to the state Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti for proper medical treatment and post trauma therapy.
The governor, who arrived the hospital a few hours after the kids were released, had brief interaction with each of the students and their teachers at the Accident and Emergency Ward of the hospital.
He was received by the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Filani; Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, Prof Kayode Olabanji; and a member of the House of Assembly representing Emure Constituency, Alhaja Mariam Ogunlade and some government officials.
Oyebanji urged the medical team not to be in a hurry to discharge the students, stressing the need for them to be properly managed, given the trauma they went through.
The governor, who kept vigil with the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, till 3.00am to ensure the release of the children, acknowledged the solidarity shown by his colleague-governors, former governors of the state as well as religious leaders and traditional rulers.
He also thanks members of the Ekiti State Caucus in the National Assembly and members of the state House of Assembly for their support. “And more importantly, we thank God for everything” the governor said.
Restating his resolve to stamp out crimes and criminalities from the state by making the environment unbearable for criminals operating under whatever guise, he reiterated that killers of the two Ekiti Obas would be fished out and made to face the maximum weight of the law.
Expressing his condolences over the death of the bus driver, Mr Taiwo Olugbaye, the governor said government would not leave any stone unturned in the bid to apprehend the criminals.
“It is very sad. My condolences to the family. I have directed the Deputy Governor to pay a visit to the family and to the Elemure to commiserate with them. But what I can assure Ekiti people is that we will go after the criminals.”
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, urged the people of the state to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement in their communities to the authorities.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Filani, who confirmed that the the pupils and their teachers were in stable condition, said they were being attended to by a multidisciplinary team of medical personnel.
Also, the Ekiti State Police Command said the freedom of the school children was made possible through the combined efforts of the police and other security agencies including the Amotekun Corps, local vigilantes and hunters as well as the family members and the support from the Federal and State governments.
A statement signed by the Police PRO, Sunday Abutu, sympathised with the family members of the driver killed by the abductors.
The command vowed to continue with the operation and investigation until the perpetrators were arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
FCT State Minister Visits Kidnap Victims Family, Assures Residents of Security
The Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has paid a sympathy visit to the family of Al-Kadriyar Mansoor, whose daughters were recently released after being held captive by kidnappers for several days.
She also urged the residents of the territory to be patient, assuring them that the efforts put in place by the FCT Administration to address the issues of insecurity across Abuja would soon yield positive results.
Mahmoud stressed that since the reported cases of kidnapping in recent times, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had been on his feet doing all that was necessary to improve on the security situation in the city centre including the satellite towns.
“I am sure the people of FCT will also bear witness of our collective efforts in tackling insecurity. They have seen how we have been up and doing since this incident of kidnapping and other security matters.
“His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, has been on his feet. We have been doing all that is necessary to improve on our security situation in FCT.
“All the support to be given to the security agencies has been put in place and also some materials and equipment they need to carry out their works are also in the process,” she said.
She added that the administration would also address the issue of access road as it would improve the security situation in FCT and the satellite towns.
“I am sure you too have seen that the issue of kidnapping is going down, but we want it at a zero level,” she said.
She expressed satisfaction with the state of health of the victims, who were abducted in Sagwari Estate in Bwari Area Council, noting that they were in a stable condition.
“We were here today in the house of Mr. Alkadriyar Mansoor, because of the tragedy that happened to the family.
“Precisely the issue of kidnapping of his five female children but released by the support of the government and family members. So, we have come to support the family and to tell them that the FCT Administration is with them.
“By and large, we are here to see how they are coping psychologically, mentally and also spiritually. And we thank Almighty Allah for their lives and health because they are in a stable condition,” Mahmoud said.
In his response, the father of the children, who was also a victim, Mr. Alkadriyar Mansoor, thanked the minister for the show of love, and called on the administration to extend the same to other victims.
