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Kaduna state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Joseph Hayab, is quoted to have disclosed that some of the abducted students of Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, Kaduna, have been released after 20 days in captivity.
Online media platform, TheCable, reported Hayab to have said this on Sunday.
A total of 121 students were abducted from their hostels by bandits on July 5. However, 28 of the 118 that had remained in kidnappersโ den were released on Sunday [today].
The Nigerian Baptist Convention had approached some of its churches in order to raise the ransom demanded by bandits for the release of some students abducted from Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna State.
The bandits had, on July 5, 2021, around 2am, stormed school located along the Kaduna-Kachia highway in the Chikun Local Government Area and made away with the students.
The proprietor, who is also the President, Kaduna Baptist Conference, Rev. Ishaya Jangado, disclosed that no fewer than 121 students were abducted by the bandits.
One of the students was later released by the bandits on health grounds.
After series of negotiations, the bandits who initially demanded N100m ransom reduced it to N60m.
On Wednesday the President of the NBC Revd. Israel Akanji, said although the convention was opposed to the payment of ransom for freedom, โwe have been boxed in, we have been given no option but to look for ways to rescue the children.โ
It was gathered that earlier on Wednesday, the convention had reached out to some churches in the fold for contribution towards freeing the schoolchildren.
A member of the church in Lagos State told The Punch that the pastor of his church forwarded a WhatsApp message to one of the churches platforms the request of the NBC, urging members to contribute to freeing the children.
The message reads partly, โThe latest situation as of this morning is that โฆ so far โฆ has been pulled together from different contributorsโฆ Please if we could have more from our people, it will help us. Thanks. We desire to close this deal by the end of the Sallah break in order to have the children back possibly by the weekend.โ
The member said since Wednesday there had been efforts by members to help free the children.
He said, โI understand our members in selected churches are participating in the contribution.โ
Another member also in Lagos said the children would be out by early next week, adding, โBut I donโt know how much have been made.โ
Akanji could not be reached as one of his aides, who picked his mobile phone said he was in a meeting.
The bodyโs Director of Publications, Reverend Ijaola Adelokoji, when contacted said, โI am not authorised to speak on the matter, but there will be a press conference to let everyone know the state of things.โ
Police rescue two abducted students
Meanwhile, the police in Kaduna State have rescued two of the students.
The police said its operatives rescued the two students in the Rijanna area along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.
Following the rescue of the two students, the number of students left in the kidnappersโ den is now 118.
Confirming the development, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said the students had been taken to a medical facility.
