8 kidnapped at Turkish college regains freedom in southwest Nigeria

The management of the Nigerian Turkish International College (NTIC) in southwest Ogun State announced the rescuing of students and members of staff of the college who were kidnapped in their school premises.

In a statement made available to Xinhua late on Tuesday, Cemal Yigit, spokesperson for the college, said the victims were released after a painstaking collaborative effort by the relevant security agencies in the country.

The spokesperson said the students and teachers are doing fine and have reunited with their families.

"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," Yigit added.

Earlier, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 2, Kayode Aderanti, gave an assurance that the kidnapped students and staff of the college would be released within 24 hours.

Aderanti said he spoke with the leader of the search team shortly before his visit and that he got a positive response from him.

He denied rumors that the families of the victims had been paying ransom, insisting that "no ransom has been paid."

On Jan. 13, unknown gunmen invaded the NTIC campus and abducted two Junior Secondary School (JSS) students, one Senior Secondary School (SSS) student, three Nigerian workers and two Turkish staff.

They were abducted at about 9:30 p.m., when the kidnappers dug through the fence and entered through a back door.

source: Xinhua