The five abducted pupils and teachers of Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti, have been released.
They were five students, three female teachers and the school driver.
Report says that the driver, Taye Rasaki, was mowed down by the abductors.
It was gathered thst the corpse of the driver was also burnt by his assailants fueling speculations hat the kidnappers are people he could recognize.
A source disclosed that Rasaki was son of a popular cow meat seller in Emure Ekiti.
Unconfirmed report says that N16 million ransom was paid to the kidnappers before the pupils and their teachers were released.
The victims were released at about 2am today.
The pupils and others were kidnapped on Monday, January 26, 2024, as they were returning to Eporo Ekiti after school in Emure Ekiti.
The kidnappers ambushed the bus along Emure – Eporo Road and opened fire. They then took away five students, three female teachers and the driver.
The kidnappers initially demanded N100 million for the release of the victims, but later agreed to collect N16 million after negotiations.
A video clip showed the freed pupils and their teachers sitting on the floor, looking exhausted and traumatized. A mother could be heard crying over the condition of her child.
A government official in Ekiti who preferred to be anonymous, confirmed the release of the abductees and said that they were reunited with their families.
He further said that the state Ministry of Health officials were present to take them to Ado Ekiti for medical check-up.
Abutu Sunday, police spokesperson in Ekiti, who confirmed the development to TheCable, also disclosed that the driver of the bus was found dead.
“In the early hours of today around 1:30 am, the abducted children and their teacher were rescued by the team of police and other security agencies, including the locals,” Sunday said.
“Unfortunately, we lost the driver who is suspected of having been killed by the abductors.”
