Read How Kidnappers Freed Lagos Pupils After Collecting 37 Million Naira Ransom

There were open displays of emotion on Friday as the parents of the pupils of the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe, who were abducted on May 25, 2017, reunited with their children following their release after 64 days in captivity,Punch reports.

The pupils – Peter Jonah, Isiaq Rahmon, Adebayo George, Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf – arrived at the Lagos State Deputy Governor’s office in Alausa, Ikeja from Ondo State around 9 pm.

But a security source told Saturday PUNCH that the kidnappers collected N5m on Tuesday, adding that the fresh payment led to the release of the children. According to the source, the fresh payment brought the total ransom paid to the kidnappers to N37m.

Twenty suspected kidnappers of the pupils were killed in gun duels with security operatives in the events leading to the release of the pupils on Friday.

It was learnt that one civilian volunteer (local vigilante), who fought on the side of the security agents, was also killed, while eight policemen and four other volunteers sustained injuries in the shoot-outs.

The police said one of the members of the kidnap gang, who collected ransom on behalf of the gang, was also arrested.

The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, who received the children in her office in Alausa, Ikeja on behalf of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, said the state government would use the holiday period to intensify security in public schools before the next term begins.