Governor vows to rescue abducted girl

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has vowed to ensure that the kidnapped female students of Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in Ikorodu, are rescued.

The girls, three of them, were abducted by heavily armed gunmen on Monday, February 29.

According to a statement signed by the Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, the Governor said the Police and other security operatives in the state are combing everywhere necessary for the girls and their abductors.

“We have not been silent on this unfortunate development. In a delicate security matter of this nature, where young innocent people are involved and management of information demands utmost circumspect, we were convinced that swift and coordinated reaction, guided by intelligence reports on the part of the Police, was a better and more sensitive approach to take, rather than a sensational, panic-stricken reaction”, Ambode said.

He said the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseniand the Assistant Inspector General of Police for the Lagos/Ogun Command are leading the leading the rescue effort with every military apparatus.

“We believe in the capacity of the Police to lead this rescue mission. I have had ceaseless briefing with them since the incident happened and God helping us, we shall spare no effort in securing the safe release of the girls and continue to secure the school and indeed every part of Lagos”.

The incident, according to the statement, is believed to be connected with his recent visit to some parts of Ikorodu where he read the riot act to vandals and criminal gangs on the resolve of the state government to take the battle to their hideouts in a spirited effort to secure the pipelines.

“We believe this is a case of evil fighting back. But Lagos will neither succumb to threats of lawlessness nor bow to terror.

“Our resolve is very clear; we will assist the Police and other security agencies in dealing decisively with this one unfortunate case and prevent future reoccurrence. We will deploy the resources at our disposal to safeguard every life and property within our care,” he said.

The Governor, while appealing for the support of every Lagosian in stemming criminal acts in the state, he urged all to be vigilant and helpful to security operatives.