Kidnappers of six pupils of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla in Epe have contacted the parents and demanded a N400 million ransom for their children’s’ release.
The six students were abducted on Thursday morning when gunmen stormed the school and ferried them away through the waterways.
It was gathered yesterday that the kidnappers established contacts with the parents at about 4:30pm on Friday.
The parents said the kidnappers did not allow them speak with the children.
They only told the parents what they wanted and how to go about raising the money: ask the school authorities and government to provide the money.
Parents who spoke to newsmen in separate interviews yesterday appealed to the kidnappers to release the pupils on compassionate grounds.
One of the parents said: “They called me around 4pm. They called the name of my son and asked if I knew him. I said yes and then, they gave him the phone to speak with me.
“As we were talking, they took the phone and told me to go to the government and the school authorities to provide N400 million before they would release the children. The call did not last long.
“I called other parents whose children were also taken and they also confirmed they were contacted by the kidnappers. We are appealing to them to release the children on compassionate grounds. If they have issues with the school management or the government, they can look for another way to address it.
“They should pity us, the parents and release our children. I have not been able to sleep since Thursday. My wife has not stopped crying either. They should please have mercy on us.”
It was gathered that the onslaught against the militants continued yesterday with several others said to have been killed.
It was learnt that about eight policemen were seriously wounded.
A source claimed that three of the wounded cops were receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
Some were taken to a specialist hospital.