Kidnapped children freed in police operation

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers last Monday morning hijacked a school bus conveying 15 pupils of Abayi International School, Osisioma, near Aba to their school and took them to an unknown destination.

The kidnappers were said to have demanded N20 million ransom for the release of the kids.

Soldiers and security agents had sealed off the town in a major security sweep following outcry by Nigerians that government should act decisively to rescue the children. President Goodluck Jonathan had also given security operatives marching orders to save the pupils. All the 15 schoolchildren were rescued by a combined team of army and police security services Thursday night in the forest of Ogwe-Asa in Abia State, a news agency quoted a senior police officer as saying.

Abia State Police Commissioner, Jonathan Johnson, told Reuters that  the rescued children are in police custody and will be returned to their parents later in the day.

He said no arrests had been made and he was not aware that any ransom money had been paid.