September 19, (THEWILL) – Ten of the remaining 31 abducted students of Bethel Baptist High school, Damishi, Kaduna have been released.
They were kidnapped on July 5 when bandits invaded the school in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
Kaduna Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Joseph Hayab confirmed the development.
Hayab said the students were released on Saturday night and have been reunited with their parents.
“Ten students were released this (Saturday) evening and have reunited with their parents. We are now hoping for the remaining 21 who are still with the bandits”, he said.
He confirmed that an undisclosed amount of ransom was paid before their release.
A total of 121 students were forcefully taken away from their hostels when the school came under attack by the assailants.
The bandits later released 28 of them on July 25, after a ransom was reportedly paid to them. Thereafter, 15 additional students regained freedom from the captivity of their abductors on August 22.
More students were later freed, and the release of the new batch of students on Saturday brings the total number of students who have regained freedom so far to 100. However, 21 other students of the school are held back in the custody of the bandits.
The spate of kidnapping for ransom payment spiked recently in Kaduna, with schoolchildren as targets for bandits.
Although authorities in the state have insisted that they will neither negotiate nor pay any money to the criminals, those whose families are victims have had a contrary view.
For such people, they are ready to consider all options that can lead to the release of their loved ones, not ruling out the payment of ransom.
Kaduna is not the only state battling banditry. Bandits have also attacked schools in other parts of the North West and North Central, with Zamfara among the worst-hit states.
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