Traditional ruler arrested in connection to abducted Lagos students

Lagos State Model College, Igbo Nla, Epe.

A traditional ruler, otherwise known as ‘Baale,’ has been arrested by policemen trying to rescue the six abducted students of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe. The Baale (names withheld) was said to have been arrested while coming out after supplying food to the militants in their hideout. According to a security source, the traditional ruler has been handed over to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni.

The police chief is interrogating the suspect himself. The Baale’s arrest has angered the leader of the militants, identified as ‘America’, who has issued out threats. Incidentally, it was ‘America’ who led the abduction of eight people from the Nigerian Turkish International College (NTIC) in January.

READ: Just In: Gunmen abduct 2 Principals and Students from Lagos School.

He is also suspected to be the brain behind the abduction of six students from Model College, Epe. Spitting fire, ‘America’ was said to have alerted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in charge of Epe Police Station, to get ready that he and his men were coming to attack the station soonest.

A police source said: “Whenever any of their members is arrested, they will know. It is because of the Baale that the militants called the DPO, Epe; they said they would be coming to wipe out his station. It is believed that some policemen, soldiers and naval men are working with these militants. They are the bad eggs that communicate every move and strategy to the militants.

This is part of the reason it is hard to stop or check the militants.” Meanwhile, intelligence report says that the same ‘America’ is planning to carry out a bank raid this week. “According to intelligence report, ‘America’ and his men are planning to attack a bank. They have already picked the bank.

They are likely to strike this week,” said a source. On Friday, there was a protracted gun battle between the militants and policemen. The kidnappers were alleged to have injured seven policemen, including the SO (Station Officer) in charge of Marine Police.

The Marine policemen, who first engaged the militants in the gun duel, were able to injure many and also sank the militants’ two gunboats. The militants fled, only to return with an overwhelming reinforcement.

They ambushed and attacked the Marine policemen from different angles, leading to seven policemen being wounded. The Marine policemen were later supported by teams of policemen from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and Anti- Kidnapping Unit of Lagos State.

Some policemen, who partook in the gun battle, have described it as a mother of all battles. This was even as they recounted that they ran out of ammunition, while militants were still firing. A source said: “It was a bloody day.

The militants used their gunboats to block Epe River. Nobody was allowed to pass. They stationed three gun boats in three strategic places. Nobody dared to go closer to them. Policemen were looking at the militants and they were looking at the policemen. “The militants were in full camouflage.



They tied red bands on their forehead. They were dancing, jubilating and making mockery of the policemen. They repeatedly beckoned at the policemen to come forward if they could. “In the heat of the attack, Marine police called their Ogun State counterpart; they said they didn’t have ammunition.