Kaduna Governor, Nasir El Rufai
Bandits free 10 more Bethel Baptist students after ransom payment in Kaduna
Barely a month after freeing the first 15 out of the 65 students abducted from the Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna, the abductors have now released another set of 10 children kidnapped from the institution in July.
Bandits reportedly released 10 more students kidnapped from the Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna after allegedly collecting ransom payments from the parents of the abducted students.
Confirming the release of the students, in Kaduna, Saturday, the school’s administrator, Kaduna Chapter Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. John Hayab disclosed that 21 students from the school were still in the custody of the bandits.
Equally important, Hayab confirmed the payment of a ransom for the release of the students.
Specifically, he claimed that undisclosed ransom was paid to release eight students, even as he said two others were set free due to ill health.
In August, the bandits had released 15 students from the school after a group of 28 was set free in July, following the release of a first group of 28 two days after the raid.
In all, about 150 students were kidnapped from the Bethel Baptist School after armed gunmen stormed the school and proceeded to raid the hostels, and abducting the students.
In August, the Kaduna Chapter Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. John Hayab, has disclosed that 15 students of the Bethel Baptist High School in the state have regained their freedom from the hands of their abductors.
Hayab who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Kaduna, said that they are still waiting for the remaining 50 students of the school who were kidnapped in the July 5 raid.
“Fifteen more students were released on Saturday night and 65 students are still with the bandits,” he said.
Confirming the development, Police Public Relations Officer for the Kauna State Police Command, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said 15 students of the school have been freed by their abductors.
Jalige, however, said that he cannot confirm whether ransom was paid by the parents before the students’ release or not.
“We are not aware of that,” he said.
