A photo has emerged of the three schoolgirls who were abducted Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in Ikorodu. The girls were found at the Igbokuta area of Ikorodu. They were unharmed and were not molested by their kidnappers. Police reports that three arrests have been made in connection with the crime.
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Lagos Mainland Diocese (Anglican Communion), Most Rev Adebayo Akinde, on Monday, March 7, disclosed that the abduction of three female students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu was sad and traumatic for the proprietors of the school. Akinde, however, commended the Lagos State Government and the state police command, noting that their prompt response largely contributed to the rescue of the schoolgirls on Sunday, March 6. He expressed gratitude at the State House at a meeting with the state governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and some members of the State Executive Council.
According to Naij.com, the archbishop visited the governor alongside other bishops of the Anglican Church, principal of the school, Ven Olaoluwa Adeyemi and parents of the three rescued female students among others. At the meeting, Akinde said the abduction of the schoolgirls was most traumatic and sad for us as proprietors, though he thanked God for intervening in what he described as unfortunate and traumatic. He said the schoolgirls “are now safe in the custody of their parents and have been reunited,” thereby commending the state government and the state police command for their prompt and practical response. He said the governing council deemed it fit to appreciate the role played by the state government in the wake of the abduction of the students from the school on February 29 and particularly Ambode’s role.
He said: “When we talk about this success story of the return of the three female students, the contribution of the state government is most overwhelming. The governor has shown to be a passionate leader, a leader that is interested in the well-being of the citizens of the state. “So the main objective of our mission here is to thank the state government for the support it gave us. We are indeed grateful. God will grant the state grace to continue and improve in the name of Jesus. We sincerely appreciate you and we are immensely grateful,” Akinde said. Also speaking, Adeyemi, the principal of the school, said the proprietors were indeed grateful for the support, encouragement and prayers they received from several quarters while the ordeal lasted. Adeyemi said with the security apparatus put in place by the state government, it was game over for those who have taken “to crime in Lagos. There is no hiding place for criminals in Lagos now, because of the event that took place in the past few days and that God helped us. “The security agencies did their work well and the girls are with us now. They are back in school and have reunited with their parents. I believe that God is working in Lagos,” he said.
In his response, Ambode said the incident was a test of the government’s commitment “to the security of lives and property in the state. Seven days ago, the unthinkable happened. “But again, we give all the glory to God that seven days after we are able to pride ourselves that one of those principal duties that you have charged this administration with is what we have just proved. “We took it personal, not because it was a private school, not because it was far away from the metropolis, but because we all decided to say that if it were our own child or children, are we going to sit down? That is the real focus of what this administration is all about. “For everything that happens, we put ourselves to imagine that if it were us, what would be said about our actions and in-actions. We are very grateful to God for giving us that opportunity to prove that the welfare and well-being and the security of the people of Lagos is what is paramount to us as an administration.”
