Secure the release of kidnapped students now – Group tells Ambode

A group, Save Schools and Communities Advocacy Group (SSCAG) has petitioned the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akiwunmi Ambode, over the six kidnapped students of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe about six weeks ago.
The petition, which was signed by the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Adeola Soetan, and submitted to the office of the governor on Wednesday, the copy, which was sent to Daily Post called on the Lagos State government to expedite action on the immediate rescue of the kidnapped students.

The group expressed disappointment over the inability of the government in the state to rescue students after over 50 days of their abduction.
It added that the body language of the government does not suggest any serious plan to rescue the students soonest.
“We find it’s very disheartening that more than 50 (fifty) days after the kidnap of the students, the Lagos State Government has not been able to secure the release of the students despite repeated assurances from the police and security agencies.

“While acknowledging the instant response by the state government, police and security agencies immediately after the abduction, we are however taken aback by the seeming apathy thereafter.
” We are equally alarmed that the conduct and utterances of the Lagos State Government do not convey the impression that it takes as urgent priority the rescue of these children as there is no sign that things are amiss.”
The group stressed that the long stay of the students at the den of the kidnappers will have a dangerous and adverse effects on the psyches of other students in both primary and post-primary schools.

It noted that the efforts to increase the level of enrollment among children could be jeopardized if the trend continues unabated.
“The rescue of the six (6) Epe school students is therefore crucial to restoring confidence in our public schools’ system as well as government’s capacity to ensure the safety of school children both within the school premises and outside of it in line with the provisions of the Child Rights Act and other Conventions on the right of the child to which Lagos State and Nigeria are signatories.
” We submit that in the situation where urgent and serious efforts are not made to rescue the students, we would be left with no choice than to mobilize all concerned Lagosians and Nigerians on public mass actions across Lagos State to ensure that Lagos State Government does the needful.
“Once again, we reiterate that government should expedite actions in rescuing the Epe 6 now and alive.”