Kidnappers of six Epe schoolboys warn that they shall return unless they are granted an amnesty

KIDNAPPERS who abducted six secondary school pupils from the Lagos Model College in Epe have warned that they will strike again and kidnap more pupils unless they are included in a federal government amnesty programme.

 

On May 25, the pupils were abducted from their school but were eventually freed last week after security forces stormed the camp in Aboto Creek in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State where they were being held. Lagos State police commissioner Fatai Owoseni disclosed that during the rescue mission, one civilian volunteer unfortunately died during the raid.

 

Some 20 kidnappers were said to have been shot during the mission but the remnants of the group, who call themselves the Niger Delta Forest Army, have warned that they may strike again. Their spokesman, who called himself General Bossman Koniwei, said that in exchange for not striking again, the federal government must offer them an amnesty.

 

Mr Koniwei added: “We wish to inform the federal government that we are prepared to drop our arms and embrace peace but will be ready to face any force if we are continuously ignored. This is the last chance for permanent peace and we shall return deadlier if nothing is done.

 

“For years, the then PDP government’s amnesty programme has been handled as a baby for the PDP boys to the exclusion of others, especially in those in Ondo State. None of our pleas were headed by the authorities, we have done this for years and we are satisfied that we have made our point."

 

He pointed out that the lgbonla College raid was an operation they carried out as a sign of their last violent campaign. Mr Koniwei said they hope the federal government will not allow their period of grace to get to another level of crisis.

 

“We want to use this medium to state that none of our men was killed in the build up to the release of the six students as claimed by the Lagos State police commissioner and the government of Lagos State. We only laugh at them listening to their claims and attempt to take glory for something they knew nothing about.

 

"We released the students to the Ondo State deputy governor because we knew he will pursue amnesty for us. Lastly, we wish to inform  the federal government that we are prepared to drop our arms and embrace peace but will be ready to face any ignored," Mr Koniwei added.

 

Warning that his is the last chance for permanent peace, Mr Koniwei  said they shall return deadlier if nothing is done. He noted that the boys were released to the Ondo State deputy governor out of respect for him and his Delta State counterpart, Kingsley Otuaro.

 

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