How gunmen broke into our school, kidnapped 8 – NTIC management

*’Lagos, Ogun states police commands make commendable responses’

Nigerian Turkish International Colleges (NTIC), Ogun State, had a horrible experience Friday night as its premises was invaded by suspected kidnappers, who made away with three female supervisors, a female cook, a female teacher (Turkish) and three students, numbering eight in all and moved them to unknown destination.

Management of the school has narrated, in an official statement it made available to the newsmen on Saturday, in which it gave details of efforts being made to assure members of the public and parents of the affected victims of their safe return.

Although The DEFENDER was one of the first contacted by the school management at about 10.50pm that Friday, rather than make it a press issue, the online media swung into action contacting both the Lagos State Police Command and Ogun State Police Command, which got its operatives into action immediately at about 10.58pm that the contacts were made.

NTIC, Ogun State branch is located in the Lagos/Ogun states boundary community of Isheri Olofin, necessitating the alerts by The DEFENDER to police commands of both states.  Lagos State Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni and Area G Area Commander Lanre Ogunlowo as well as Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer made commendable responses.  The Assistant Commissioner of Police, in charge of Area G, Lagos, Ogunlowo, specifically communicated with this medium saying that he too had communicated with the Commissioner of Police and that security operatives had been involved immediately.

In an official statement signed by‎ the College’s spokesperson, Cemal Yigit, the gunmen, armed with various weapons were said to have gained entrance to the school premises‎ at about 9:30pm on January 13, 2017.

The statement said, “At about 9.30pm local time, a group of people armed with dangerous weapons gained entrance to the girls’ section through different means and held hostage three female supervisors, a female cook, a female teacher (Turkish) and three students.”

It further explained that the school security personnel noticed “some movement on the CCTV camera at the girls’ section and promptly deployed security personnel and alerted the relevant security agencies in the area as customary.”

“Upon hearing the security alarm activated and sighting our security personnel, the armed invaders opened fire on the security staff and managed to escape through a very dangerous route with the hostages. The security agencies are currently on their trail as the whole area has been cordoned off.

“We wish to assure parents and guardians that the students and teacher will return to safety soon as everything possible has been deployed to ensure that our teachers and students return unhurt by God’s grace,” the statement read.