Bandits Release 15 Abducted Bethel Baptist High School Students

By Akinwale Kasali

There seems to be hope for the remaining 65 abducted students of Bethel High School, Damishi, Kaduna State, following the release of 15 students from the Bandits captivity.

Confirming the release of the 15 Students, Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Kaduna state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said that the students were released on Saturday night by the bandits.

On July 5, 2021, bandits had invaded the school located some few kilometers away from Kaduna metropolis and abducted 121 students.

The Kaduna CAN chairman said the remaining students still in captivity are now 65.

Hayab said there would be no reunion ceremony for the freed students, adding that their parents will simply pick them up and go home.

The bandits had said that the students would be released in batches when they freed the first batch of 28 on July 25, 2021, after they were said to have collected a ransom of N100m.

After the release of the 28 students in July, the bandits were said to have demanded another N80m for the release of the remaining 80 students.

It was learnt that an undisclosed amount of money was paid before the 15 students were freed.

Israel Akanji, President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), had earlier said no ransom will be paid for the release of the students