The three freed students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu, Lagos State, were absent on Tuesday during a visit by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, to the school.
It was learnt that the pupils – Timilehin Olosa, Tofunmi Popoola and Deborah Akinayo – were still at home with their respective parents after they went for another checkup organised by the school management.
The students were studying in a classroom for exams last Monday when about 12 gunmen stormed the school’s premises and abducted them.
They were, however, rescued on Sunday by a combined team of policemen from the Inspector-General of Police’s special unit; the Lagos State Police Command, and operatives from other security agencies, while three suspects were arrested.
A source told our correspondent on Tuesday that the primate, in company with the school proprietors – Bishops of four Anglican dioceses – commended the pupils and the management for their courage while the girls were in the den of the kidnappers.
The source added that Okoh prayed for the children and assured them of the church’s support at all times.
“The primate came this morning along with the bishops. He applauded the pupils for being strong throughout the trying moment of the school. He prayed for them, the teachers and pledged that the church would always be there for the school and the pupils. But the three girls were absent. They were at home to rest after their ordeal,” the source said.
Another source said the security of the school had improved, adding that exams, which were supposed to start on Monday would commence on Friday.
He said, “Part of the security measures we are putting in place is the raising of the school fence. It is relatively high now, but we want it to be higher. Other measures are sensitive and should be kept secret. The police are still on the ground to secure the school. Some of the senior students started their exams today (Tuesday). For junior classes, it will commence on Friday.”
Our correspondent also gathered from a source that the police were close to apprehending some fleeing members of the gang who abducted the girls.
“We are on the trail of the other gang members and very likely, more arrests will be made before the end of the week. The arrested suspects are being investigated,” the source said.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the command had devised several strategies to secure schools in the state and urged their managements to partner the police.
She said, “The command is advising administrators of schools in Lagos State, not only Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, to partner the police in ensuring maximum and adequate security of their schools because the command has put a lot of operational strategies in place to make all schools and Lagos in general safe.”
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