In a distressing turn of events, armed bandits have reportedly abducted several pupils, their head teacher, and a driver from Apostolic Faith School in Emure, Ekiti State. The harrowing incident unfolded after school hours as the victims were traveling on their school bus from Emure to Eporo Ekiti. This unsettling development has sparked panic among local residents, prompting urgent appeals to security agencies for heightened protection.
As of now, efforts to obtain comments from the Ekiti State police spokesman, Sunday Abutum, have proven unsuccessful. The alarming incident compounds the security challenges in the state, which recently witnessed the tragic killing of two traditional rulers by suspected bandits.
The victims, identified as the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, David Babatunde, and Onimojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Ogunsakin Olushola, fell prey to the attackers during an ambush on their vehicle. The assailants, suspected to be herdsmen, struck as the rulers were returning from Ogbe, a neighboring town in Kogi State. The lifeless bodies were left along a bush path, necessitating a joint effort by security forces and local vigilantes for recovery.
In response to these escalating security concerns, Governor Biodun Oyebanji has issued a resolute directive to security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators responsible for the attacks on the traditional rulers. The abductions of schoolchildren further underscore the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the prevailing security challenges in Ekiti State.