The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, security agencies and Ekitikete for their support, which led to the timely release of the kidnapped pupils of Apostolic Faith Nursery and Primary school, Emure Ekiti.
This was contained in a statement on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Yinka Oyebode.
The children and their teachers were released in the wee hours on Sunday and brought to the palace of the Elemure of Emureland around 4am.
The driver of the school bus was reported killed in the custody of the kidnappers.
The Governor, while congratulating the children and their families, expresses his profound appreciation to President Tinubu for giving specific directives that put the search and rescue mission on top gear.
He also thanked the security agencies for their collaborative efforts during the search for the students, just as he extended appreciation to Ekitikete home and abroad for their support during the security situation experienced last week.
Noting the traumatic experience of the children in the kidnappers’ den, Governor Oyebanji has directed the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, to take the children to the state Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti for proper medical treatment and post-trauma therapy.
The Governor, who kept vigil with the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, till 3am to ensure the release of the children, acknowledged the solidarity shown by his fellow governors, former governors of the state as well as religious leaders and traditional rulers.
He also thanked members of the Ekiti State Caucus in the National Assembly and members of the state House of Assembly for their support.
“And more importantly, we thank God for everything,” the Governor said.
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Oyebanji also restated the determination of his administration to stamp out crime and criminality from the state by making the environment unbearable for criminals operating under whatever guise.
Similarly, the Governor said killers of the two Ekiti State monarchs would be fished out and made to face the maximum weight of the law.
He urged the people of the state to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement in their communities to the authorities.
