From Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
Miss Precious Adeyemo, one of the two female students of Olabisi Onabanjo University(OOU) Ayetoro campus, Ogun State that was abducted on Sunday but rescued 48 hours later, has said that she was "happy" to be out of her abductors'Den.
Precious, who is a 300 level Forestry and Wildlife Management student, Faculty of Agriculture of the OOU, Ayetoro campus, and her colleague, Oyefule Abiola of the Agricultural Economics department, were abducted at about 9pm on that fateful Sunday when gunmen attacked Igbole Aibo Quarters of Ayetoro, in Yewa North Local Government Area of the State and taken to unknown destination.
The Abductors also contacted their families, demanding N50m ransom before the captives could be set free.
The students were however rescued safely on Tuesday evening 48 hours later through the coordinated efforts of the security agencies in the State and spearheaded by the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
The Governor also announced the news of their release to the public late Tuesday night on his twitter handle.
Consequently, the girls were later brought to the Okemosan Governor's Office, Abeokuta by the Police as a way of reassuring the world that of truth, they have been rescued unhurt.
"I'm happy to be out of the hands of my abductors. That is all I can say now. The experience is not what I can tell now," Precious briskly told our Reporter as she was led out of the Governor's Office on Wednesday evening.
However, the Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alh. Abdulrasheed Odusile, has disclosed that the government did not pay a dime to anybody as ransom to effect safe release of the girls.
Odusile disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen during a press briefing on the release of the school girls.
He also disclosed the government had sleepless nights all the time the abducted female students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ayetoro campus, were in captivity.
He said Governor Dapo Abiodun was personally touched by the girls' plights as a father and as a government and had to work round the clock to ensure their safe return.
According to him, all the security apparatuses in the State were both activated and tasked on quick and safe rescue of the girls.
He expressed happiness that they were back unhurt and commended the Ogun State Police Command and other security agencies for their swift response and subsequent safe rescue of the OOU girls.
He assured that his administration would continue to give security of lives and property a priority attention, particularly those of the students, even as he advised residents and students alike to also get involved in their safety by being vigilant and take personal responsibility towards staying safe.
He warned that whoever that engaged in kidnapping of another student or anybody in the State again would gravely regret it.
He noted that the girls had been in pains and traumatized with experiences nobody would wish to encounter, appealing to newsmen to spare them of any interview.
He assured of security beef up in all schools across the state.
He recalled that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun State axis and National Association of Ogun State Students(NAOSS) in their hundreds stormed Governor's Office, Oke Mosan, had earlier stormed the Oke Mosan, Abeokuta Governor's office on a 'Thank You' visit for the safe rescue of the students
In her remarks, the state Health Commissioner, Dr. Tomi Coker said the rescued students have been subjected to medical examinations, stressing that none of them showed any health concern but assured that they have been vaccinated accordingly.
Earlier, the students led by Com. Damilola Simeon(Chairman, NANS JCC Ogun State) and Com. Oluwagbemileke Ogunrombi(National President, NAOSS) lauded Abiodun's efforts, describing him as the "most students-friendly governor."
They, however, appealed to the governor to beef up security around schools in Ogun State and erect perimetre fence around every one of them.
Addressing the students on behalf of Governor Abiodun, the Chief of Staff, Shuaibu Salisu, lauded the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies involved in the exercise.
He urged the students to take personal responsibility in staying safe by letting loved ones know about their movement.
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