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Tag: Lagos State Model College

  • Lagos Assembly lauds govt over schools

    Lagos Assembly lauds govt over schools

    Chairman, Committee on Education of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Hon Lanre Ogunyemi has praised the state government for providing a condusive enviroment for smooth resumption of pupils for the new academic session in public schools.

    He gave this commendation when he led members of the committee on a visit to Lagos State Model College, Ajah to observe the resumption of schools for the 2017/2018 academic session.

    The lawmaker said they were impressed with what they saw during the surprise visit.  He said with the provision of modern infrastructure by the state government, the schools, teachers and pupils were ready for the new academic session.

    “Despite coming early and unannounced, we met the students and teachers on ground, a clear indication of their readiness for the new academic session,” he said.

    Ogunyemi also donated N300,000 to the college on behalf of his daughter, Dr. Olubukola Ogunyemi, who a former pupil of the school.

    The lawmaker, who represents Ojo Constituency 2 in the Assembly, used the opportunity to call on private organisations in the state to support the government on education.

    “We are calling on more corporate organisations and wealthy individuals to support the government in education, and look into our riverine areas to support education there,” he said.

    On Monday, many schools across the state made extra efforts to receive their pupils and get them ready for academic activities.

    To encourage pupils to show up on the first day of resumption, a teacher Oduduwa Government School, Papa Ajao, Mushin, who simply referred to himself as Mr Rahim, said they were made to write tests

    “We conduct a pre-resumption test so that the pupils can know what will be involved in the term and also introduce them to their new class teachers and new classes, as well as so many other things that can bring to success of the school”.

    Not many pupils showed up at the Ovie Children School, Mushin, a situation the head teacher, Mr. Olasukanmi Fayola, attributed to the heavy downpour.

    “Due to the heavy down pour, pupils did not show up as expected but this term is full of lots of activities that will not only build the children mentally but teach them how to be better citizens.  Everything being taught in school will be used in their day-to-day activities.

    The reverse was the case at Crown Gate Nursery And Primary School, Somolu, where Head Teacher, Mrs. Anthonia Okunlola said the turnout of pupils was high.

    “Despite the heavy downpour a lot of students turn out well to school and new students were enrolled in d school”.

    Ahead of resumption, she said the school: “renovated and decorated the classrooms… the teachers also prepared their lesson notes; and we also had meeting to discuss areas we are lacking.”

  • Revealed: INSIDE STORY of abducted Lagos pupils’ rescue

    Revealed: INSIDE STORY of abducted Lagos pupils’ rescue

    DAYS after the six abducted students of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, in Epe area of the state regained their freedom, facts have emerged about the true circumstances of their release. Addressing the media after the pupils regained their freedom penultimate Friday, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, had claimed that the pupils were rescued by policemen, adding that no fewer than 20 suspected kidnappers were killed during a gun battle with the criminal elements.

    However, a senior security source privy to how the schoolboys’ freedom was secured has revealed that the pupils were released by the kidnappers to the Ondo State Government after intense negotiation with them.

    It will be recalled that the six pupils were kidnapped by suspected militants on May 25, 2017, who kept them for 65 days before they were released.

    A few hours after the news broke on July 28, 2017 that the pupils’ freedom had been secured, Owoseni addressed a late night press conference with information that his men played the most significant role in securing the pupils’ release.

    It was gathered that Owoseni did not mention the role played by Ondo and Delta states, led by the deputy governors of the two states, Mr. Agboola Ajayi and Mr. Kingsley Burutu Otuaro respectively, let alone credit them with risking their lives to ensure that the pupils were reunited with their parents.

    Owoseni had said: “The militants, during the encounter, also tried to steal some police and naval gunboats. On the 18th of July, the kidnappers tried to ambush the police and marine post in one of the communities in Ondo State and take the gunboat.

    “The attack was led by the kingpin within that axis, Bright Dabo Adeniye and Oniwe Iyelabi, popularly called America, were killed.

    “Adeniye, who led the abduction and his 16-gang members were the first group to meet their waterloo during encounter with our men. Iyelabi, popularly called America, died during the encounter with the police.

    “In order to achieve swift rescue, we engaged some of the parents, and in the process, we engaged some psychologists who constantly gave us assurance.

    “That led to the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, reassuring the parents recently that the children would be rescued alive.”

    Owoseni’s narrative on the release of the schoolboys drew the ire of the senior security source, who described the CP’s account as self-serving, unbelievable and spurious.

    Although the state government has been silent on its role in the release of the kids, security sources praised the efforts of the Ondo State deputy governor and his team for staying for about four nights in the inclement weather of the creeks to persuade the kidnappers release the pupils.

    He said before the pupils were released, the militants contemplated releasing them and abducting the Deputy Governor for higher ransom until they negotiated amnesty with the state government. One of the militants was said to have suggested that the government could pay N2 billion as ransom if the school children were released and the deputy governor abducted.

    The source said that Ajayi and his Chief of Staff, Mr. Donald Ojogo, and an ex-militant, who was the link between the militants and the government, went into the creeks on the order of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) to negotiate with the abductors on the release of the six pupils.

    Giving details on how Ajayi risked his life to enter the creeks in spite of security advice against it, the source said the Commander of the Forward Operational Base of the Navy insisted on escorting the team to the creeks with gunboat. But the militants had warned that they would kill the children if they saw any security personnel in company of the negotiation team.

    The Navy Commander said it would be suicidal for him to allow the number two citizen of the state to travel to the creeks without security details.

    The source said it was the assurance given by the deputy governor that made the Navy Commander to allow him to travel without any security escort. The Navy and the security details of the Deputy Governor had to stay at Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area for the three-man team.

    The source said the team traveled for over five hours in the creeks before the militants appeared to them. He said it would have been suicidal if they had gone with security men as the militants encircled them when they got to the creeks between Ajakpa in Eseodo and Ugbonla in Ilaje.

    He, however, said the militants negotiated with Ajayi that they should include them in the amnesty programme of the Federal Government, before the school children were released to the government delegation.

    His word: “I want to tell you between man and God that no ransom was paid as far we are concerned here. I don’t know where the issue of fresh N5 million ransom came in.

    “The governor directed the deputy governor to go and meet with the boys (abductors) to talk to them. You know the deputy governor is from Eseodo Local Government, so he knows the terrain (the creeks). The deputy governor went into the creeks with one of his aides known as Donald Ojogo, without any security aide because the militants warned them not to come to them with security men. They said if they came with security, they would kill the pupils.

    “They also warned the government to evacuate all the gunboats of the navy and the police from the waterways in Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states.

    “They spoke with the Deputy Governor in pidgin English. They told him they were indigenes of Ondo State and they wanted to be included in the amnesty programme of the Federal Government.

    “They said if the government included them in its amnesty programme, they would drop their arms and leave the creeks. The government did not pay a dime as ransom. Anybody that is saying they paid is not being truthful. It was after their release that the security agencies were informed.

    “It got to a stage that the deputy governor gave himself up in exchange for the children. This was just after he was asked to raise up his hands in symbol of absolute surrender to the militants in their territory.”

    The source said the pupils had got used to their abductors during their stay in the creeks. He said one of the pupils had become a general and was referred to as General Saka, as he was the leader of the pupils in captivity.

    An impeccable source revealed to The Nation that the deputy governor of Delta State and his wife, who hails from the area, intervened to convince the abductors to drop their arms and release the kids.

    It will be recalled that the states in the South West had earlier met at a meeting in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, on Monday, July 24, 2017, to discuss matters of interest, including the worsening security issues in the zone.

    Rising from the meeting, the governors vowed to work together on security issues affecting the zone. The release of the boys, it was gathered, was a fallout of the meeting.

    Contacted, the Lagos State Police spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole insisted that the police were fully involved in the rescue operation.

    He said: “From inception till their release, we were involved and we are glad we got them back to their families.”

  • Igbonla: Parents helpless as pupils mark 41 days with kidnappers 

    Igbonla: Parents helpless as pupils mark 41 days with kidnappers 

    Parents of the six pupils kidnapped from Lagos State Model College, Igbonla in Epe have resigned to fate following their wards’ continued detention.

    The parents who now see updates on the state of affairs about their children from the media, wondered the source of the news, since the kidnappers had stopped communicating with them.

    Yusuf Farouk, Ramon Isiaka, Pelumi Philips, Peter Jonas, Adebanjo George and Judah Agbaosi were whisked away from their hostels- Yellow and Green houses- on May 25, by gunmen clad in police uniform.

    Despite N10million ransom raised by the parents and paid to the kidnappers, the criminals have continued to detain the pupils.

    Three of the parents in separate interviews with our Correspondent said they were disturbed by reports that the kidnappers said they would not release their children.

    The parents, whose names would not be mentioned for obvious reasons, said the kidnappers have remained incommunicado for several weeks, adding that they were all confused and tired.

    One said: “We have not heard anything from the kidnappers since they collected the N10million and told us to go and get more money. They have stopped contacting us since then. I do not know where those who reported that the kidnappers have threatened to relocate our children to Niger Delta got their information.

    “I think the police should invite them for questioning. Maybe, they are in touch with the kidnappers. I read it online that the kidnappers said they will not release our children. That the police werw after them and so, they are using the children as shield and will move them to Niger Delta.

    “I am so tired. We all are tired. It is over 40 days now and we do not even know what is happening to the children. We have prayed, consulted and now, we are only waiting. We hope that our children’s case does not turn to another Chibok Girls.”

    Another parent, who also said they haven’t heard from the kidnappers, urged those spreading false information to be sensitive to their plights.

    “A friend told me on Sunday that there was a story that the kidnappers would relocate the boys. He said the kidnappers said they will not release them and I was surprised. I asked him how the people who wrote the story heard? They should stop aggravating our pain. We have not heard from the kidnappers and we are praying that our kids return home safely. All we can do now is wait. We are all confused. We haven’t heard from them.”

    Meanwhile, there is an online campaign with the hashtag #Free6LagosBoys on Instagram canvassing their release and also praying for them.

    It was gathered that since June 19, a six minute daily prayer, which begins at 6pm is held on their behalf.

    So far, the police have maintained silence on efforts being made to rescue the pupils, insisting that such comments could jeopardise their rescue operations.

     

  • ‘Why Igbonla pupils have not been rescued’

    ‘Why Igbonla pupils have not been rescued’

    …As another victim falls sick

     

    Parents of the six pupils kidnapped on May 25 from the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, on May 25, have blamed the Inspector General of Police’ (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) for the continued detention of their wards by militants.

    Yusuf Farouk, Ramon Isiaka, Pelumi Philips, Peter Jonas, Adebanjo George and Judah Agbaosi were kidnapped from their hostels by militants clad in police uniforms.

    The parents said the publicity given the arrest of three suspected members of the gang picked up in Edo State by Abba Kyari led IRT made the kidnappers to relocate the boys to a creek in Niger Delta.

    According to the parents, the police have forgotten about their children and were more interested in celebrating the capture of kingpin, Chukwudumeje George Onwuamadike alias Evans.

    The parents, who said they have resorted to prayer and fasting for the return of their wards, expressed worries that it might turn to another Chibok saga.

    Egelu Endurance, 25 alias Jubby, Stanley Yomi Irabomini, 25, (Powei) and Bentel Endurance, 24, all from Ovia South Local Government Area   (LGA) were said to have left the creeks for Benin City in order to check the locations they planned to move the victims before they were caught.

    Knowing that their cover was blown, those in the creek changed plans and allegedly moved the victims in a creek in Ondo State, which was inaccessible to security forces.

    A parent who confirmed that the kidnappers collected N10million but failed to release the pupils, said they were insisting on communications with the government.

    He said the kidnappers after collecting the N10million, contacted one of the parents demanding that the balance be remitted or the pupils would be killed.

    He said: “The police should be held responsible if anything should happen to our children. We were shocked when we read in the newspapers that three of the suspects have been arrested. How can the police, knowing that our children were still held by the kidnappers announce the arrest of some gang members?

    “What did they want to achieve with that announcement? Now, the kidnappers have relocated the children, collected our N10million and switched off their phones. Is it because we are not rich people?

    “How can they in the middle of an investigation reveal that they arrested some members of the gang. What were they hoping to achieve? Were they expecting the gang to remain in their hideout given the arrest of some of their members?

    “We are still running around, hoping they would call again so that we can tell them how far we have gone.

    It was gathered that some senior police officers officers were also unhappy with the way Kyari exposed news of the arrest, when the pupils were still held captive.

    The officers, it was learnt, condemned the bridge of protocols employed by Kyari, describing it as unprofessional.

    Meanwhile, it was gathered that another pupil took ill and was taken out of the camp for treatment.

    According to a police source, they were not giving up on the rescue of the students and arrest of the kidnappers.

    He said IGP Ibrahim Idris has already placed a bounty on the gang leader’s head, Americana, adding that the Lagos State Command has been directed to intensify efforts towards getting the pupils unhurt.

    In a related development, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone II, Adamu Ibrahim, during his visit to Government House, Alausa, assured that all hands were on deck to ensure the safe return of the pupils.

    He said: “Infact very soon, you will hear good news on the issue. We are working seriously on it. At this stage, I will not want to disclose too much because these are security issues. I want to say that people should give us a chance and very soon, they will hear good news.”

     

  • Igbonla kidnap: Police arrest three suspects in Edo

    Igbonla kidnap: Police arrest three suspects in Edo

    Three suspected members of the gang that kidnapped six pupils of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe, have been arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police’ (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), The Nation learnt Wednesday.

    This is just as parents of the kidnapped pupils said they were yet to hear from the kidnappers, adding that the number militants used to contact them was no longer going through.

    Egelu Endurance, 25, alias Jubby, Stanley Yomi Irabomini (Powei) 25, and Bentel Endurance, 24, all from Ovia South LGA, were arrested Tuesday evening in Benin City, Edo State.

    It was gathered that IRT operatives led by Abba Kyari, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) arrested the three suspects who left the creek and went to Edo State to visit a gang member who was injured during gun battle with security forces.

    According to the police, the suspects confessed to have participated in several high profile kidnappings in the southern region.

    It was gathered that they conformed the location of the students to the police.

    A source said: “They confessed to have participated in various kidnappings of prominent personalities in Lagos and Ogun State including the Oniba of Iba, Turkish School, Isheri landlords and Epe School children.

    “The suspects claimed they came to Benin to see their injured colleague and also relax for a while before going back to the creek.”Serious efforts to arrest remaining gang members and rescue the school children in progress.”

     

  • Epe kidnap: Victims were ferried in two speedboats

    Epe kidnap: Victims were ferried in two speedboats

    …As police arrest Isheri ‘kidnappers’, reads riot act
    Kidnappers of the four students and two teachers of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla in Epe ferried them to safety in two speedboats, The Nation learnt Wednesday.

    It was gathered that Abu, Emmanuel Okonkwo, Jeremiah Ruth, Isaac Adebisi, Junior School Vice Principal, AO Oyesola and English teacher, Lukman Oyerinde were dropped off inside a forest where they trekked for over two hours before meeting their relatives.

    The Nation gathered that they were asked to walk in a straight line and not look back until they got to the point where family members of the sick victim and another parent have waited for over four hours.

    While the Vice Principal was said to have been in front, Oyerinde, it was gathered, was asked to stay at the back of the queue so that the children could be protected.

    The victims were taken to General Hospital, Epe for checkup, were some of them were diagnosed of typhoid and malaria.

    However, efforts to see the victims Wednesday failed as our reporter was told at the hospital that they have been discharged.

    According to the father of one of the victims, they were moved to a private residence in Epe, where the school’s principal addressed them.

    He said: “They spent several hours at the hospital and were later moved to a house in Epe town where the principal addressed them. Some of them were diagnosed of malaria and typhoid, including the one who was sick.

    “Two parents went to a designated place in Epe, where the kidnappers asked them to come. They were at the place around 6pm and stayed there till about 10pm without any sign of the victims.

    “As it was getting late, they said they were scared but had to remain there because that was the kidnappers’ instruction.  So, around 10:30pm, the victims were seen and they told them that they trekked for over two hours on a straight line, without looking back.

    “It seems where the speedboats dropped them off was the island of the militants because they said that it was inside a bush.

    “You cannot talk to my son bow because they are still busy but when we are ready, I will invite you for interview.”

    Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has read riot act to kidnappers, especially those operating in Lagos and Ogun states.

    Idris sounded the warning while confirming the arrests of suspected kidnappers of landlords at Oshorun Heritage Estate in Isheri North, Lagos.

    According to a statement signed by the Force spokesman, Don Awunah, a Deputy Commissioner of Police  (DCP), Natei Okunna (gang leader), James Kegbe alias JJ, ThankGod Segede and Trust Bourdilon were apprehended by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), a unit under the IGP, while they were spending their loots.

    He said: “This feat was achieved as a result of due diligence and intelligence led policing exhibited by members of the Force and the zeal shown by public spirited citizens to rid our society of crime.

    “The suspects were arrested at different locations where they had gone to spend their share of the ransom. They, in the course of investigation, volunteered confessional statements admitting their involvement in the kidnap incident.

    “The IGP has restated the commitment of the Police Force to fight crime, especially the prevalent scourge of kidnapping to a bearable and tolerable state. He urges Nigerians to always be law abiding and to see themselves as stakeholders in this noble cause.”

  • Lagos Assembly condemns neglect of model colleges

    Lagos Assembly condemns neglect of model colleges

    Chairman, Committee on Education of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olanrewaju Ogunyemi has condemned the state of infrastructure in the state’s model colleges.

    He then advised the state government to urgently address the issues in the colleges to sustain the visions of their founders and restore the lost glory of the schools.

    Ogunyemi, who led other members of the committee to Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe on Wednesday lamented in an interview with journalists that the school has been cut off from the society, and that the facilities in the hostels and the school generally have been overstretched.

    “We don’t want to assume that things are right, which is why we decided to go round all our schools in the state to be sure that we are really doing what ought to be done.

    “Our tour so far has been extremely revealing about the dilapidation and retrogression of our model colleges. There is need for us to improve the situation. Since much is being given to education in the budget of the state this year, we should seriously improve the facilities in our model schools. We would go back to the drawing board and advise the executive to ensure that we give the children in model schools a new lease of life,” he said.

    According to him, a trip round the school revealed that the students were being subjected to inhuman condition in their hostels, which he said were over-populated and unkempt.

    “The facilities in the hostels are inadequate, we see a lot of cramping of beds and we saw that it is not conducive. There is a hostel there that has been abandoned since the school was established, if the building is completed, it would go a long way to improve the hostel facilities.

    “The feeding of the students should be improved upon, also some of the children could not take care of themselves because they are under-aged. So, the government should apply age restriction and we feel that the model schools in the state should be model in their outlook,” he said.

    Ogunyemi described as worrisome a situation, where the students have to keep their luggages outside the hostels due to congestion and over-population, defecate in the open, while some of them that are under-aged have special rooms because they bedwet.

    He also condemned the conversion of the school library to examination hall without an alternative location for library, where he said the children could do researches.

    “The school should have improvised a room for library because without a library, the students cannot research. The vision of the founders of model schools in Lagos State needs to be sustained and we need close and adequate monitoring of our model schools to ensure that we get it right. We will go back to let the executive know that we have an urgent and critical need in our model schools.

    “We have asked the school authority about their security, the number of security men they have and advised them to ensure that they relate with the community to handle emergency situation,” he said.

    He also condemned the state of the road leading to the school, stressing that it is terrible and that the schools in the state should be accessible to the public.

    Addressing the students in the dining hall, Ogunyemi said that the committee decided to pay an unscheduled visit to the school to see how they were faring.

    “Though you cannot vote due to your ages, but some of your parents voted for us and we promised them that we would protect their interest. We came to see where you sleep and where you are learning and what you eat.

    “By the grace of God, your situation would change. We want you to continue to be good children and keep good hygiene, nobody would take care of you better than yourselves,” he stated.

    He told the students that some of the things that the committee members saw in the hostels were irritating, adding that some of the students were defecating in the open spaces.

    “The odour around your hostel was bad. We have seen the condition under which you live and we could see that the facilities are overstretched. By the grace of God, the government would do something about it and we are happy to be here,” he said.

    The Principal of the Junior Section of the school, Mr. Bolaji Oyesola, who led other staff to receive the committee members, said that a room has actually been converted to a library for the students.

    Oyesola added that the school management is trying to make do with what they have within their limited resources.

    “We take care of their feeding very well and give them water. We make sure that the students are comfortable. We have been managing what we have since the school was established in 1988. The facilities were meant for below 200 students, but now we have over 1,000 students,” he said.

    The committee later visited the Education District 3 of the state in Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos that is controlling the college, where they met with the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary of the District, Mr. Olayinka Gbemi Olaniyi and other top management staff of the district.

    Ogunyemi intimated them of the findings of the committee in the school and urged the district to ensure that they are conversant with the condition of the schools within their jurisdiction with a specific reference to the model college in Igbonla and its challenges.