Segun Atanda/
Kidnappers, who abducted students and workers at the Nigerian-Turkish International Colleges (NTIC), Isheri, in Ogun State, 11 days ago, have just set them free tonight.
According to the police, the eight victims were dropped off at the back of the school at about 8:35pm.
The police had earlier today told reporters that the victims would regain freedom within 24 hours.
The school authorities also confirmed the news in a statement issued tonight.
The statement reads in part: “The victims were released this evening after a painstaking collaborative effort by the relevant security agencies in the country.
“The management of NTIC wishes to express our gratitude to the relevant security agencies for their efforts in securing the release of the three students, one Turkish teacher, a cook and three supervisors”
The statement signed by the school’s spokesman, Cemal Yigit, says the victims are reunited with their families.
The school thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and expressed appreciation for efforts made by the Ogun State government, the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, and the Chief of Army Staff.
Earlier in the day, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, Mr Kayode Aderanti, had assured that the kidnapped students and staff of NTIC would be released within 24 hours.
He spoke with reporters shortly after his visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his hilltop residence in Abeokuta.
Aderanti said that he spoke with the leader of the search team shortly before his visit and got a positive response from him.
The kidnappers had placed a combined ransom of N1.2billion on the victims whose families allegedly negotiated hard to bring the money down to about N10million.
But Aderanti said no ransom was paid.
The AIG commended the state’s Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, for putting in place an effective security system in the state.
He urged residents of Ogun to partner with the police to ensure that lives and property were properly secured.