By ADE ALADE
Militants behind the abduction of six pupils of the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe, have concluded plans to abduct expatriates from across the state before releasing the students to their parents who already paid N30million as ransom.
According to a reliable source close to the militants, the expatriates who are already under their radar are meant to serve as human shield to frustrate suspected plans by security agencies to raid their camps in the creeks of Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states.
The suspected militants led by ‘America’, had about two weeks ago assured the parents of the students that they would release them seven days after collecting an extra sum of N20million, in addition to the N10million collected earlier. Saturday Sun gathered that few days ago, the militants also demanded that the sum of N1.5million be provided them to cover the cost of transporting the students back to where they can be picked. As at press time, it cannot be confirmed if the militants have collected the money.
The seven days notice of release, it was learnt, was to ensure that they (militants) have all departed from the creeks because of rumours that security agencies are on standby to attack the creeks.
Recall that Saturday Sun had in its previous edition revealed plots by the militants to relocate the pupils to the Niger Delta region. The report, which quoted one of the sources close to the militants revealed that there is panic amongst the militants over rumoured plans by security operatives to invade the creeks as soon as the students are dropped off.
However, the militants were said to have changed their mind on the release of the pupils untill they have succeeded in abducting a set of expatriates or other students.
Meanwhile Saturday Sun has also reliably learnt from a source close to the militants that some of them currently in Kirikiri prison have advised ‘America’ to hold on to the pupils till they are released on bail.
One of them (names withheld) who was arrested and sent to prison in 2015 had offered to personally travel to the creeks to secure the release of the students if he is released on bail. “That very militant actively participated in the several cases of bank robbery by militants in 2015. Luckily, he and several others were picked alive and charged to court at the end of police investigation. Although they are in prison, they still monitor activities going on in the creeks. The militants want amnesty. They claim that since the Federal Government started negotiating with Boko Haram members because of the Chibok girls, they intend to use school students to achieve same purpose. The pupils are well taken care of because of the millions, which their parents had already paid.
“Their current target is to pick up expatriates who they are already monitoring. ‘America’ has mobilized so many of his boys in the creeks, their job is to pick and hand over to him. As I speak to you, they have spotted so many of them and are waiting for the right opportunity to strike and that will be soonest.
Their plan is to continue picking people they assume are valuable like expatriates and children. This will frustrate any attempt by security forces to bombard the creeks,” the source said.
When contacted on the latest development, the state police spokesman, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole said that the command remains committed to the safe return of the students.