63 Kaduna Baptist students still in bandits’ custody, says Convention President

The President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Israel Akanji, has said that 63 students of the Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, Kaduna, are still in captivity after Saturday’s release of 15 of them by the bandits.

Akanji stated this on Sunday in an interview with journalists in Kaduna, shortly after reuniting the 15 students with their parents at a brief event which held at the Secretariat of the Kaduna Baptist Conference.

On July 5, 2021, bandits invaded the school and abducted 121 of the students.

On July 25, the bandits released 28 of the students after the parents reportedly paid a ransom of N100 million for the release of all of them.

Fifteen of the students escaped from captivity in various batches at different times.

The bandits were said to have collected the money but reneged on their promise to release all the students, instead, they promised to release them in batches.

The bandits were said to have demanded a fresh ransom of N80 million for the release of the remaining students.

Sources claimed that N50 million was paid after a series of negotiations, but again, the bandits reneged on their promised again, releasing only 15 students after collecting the money.

The children were looking frail, weak and malnourished as they were reunited with their parents amid tears.

The parents were prevented from speaking with journalists by officials of the Baptist Church.

Akanji said he had expected freedom for all the students but the bandits released only 15 of them.

He expressed gratitude to God for the release of the children, adding that he was hopeful that God will bring out the remaining 63 students.

“We have just gathered today to give thanks to the Almighty God for the release of these 15 children. Although the number was smaller than what we were expecting because we had 78 children out there. They had earlier given us 15, that means 63 to come.

“But in everything, God said we should give thanks and we are giving thanks for what he has done. We are trusting that the same God who has brought these 15 out, is going to help us to receive the other 63. We have great hope in God, we will keep praying and asking God for help,” Akanji said.

Also in an interview with newsmen, the President of the Kaduna Baptist Conference and proprietor of the school, Rev. Ishaya Jangado, clarified the mix up in the number of students being held by the bandits.

Jangado said: “In between the time 28 of the students were released on July 25 to now, some of them escaped. That is why the figures did not tally with what we told you earlier.”

He declined to comment on how much ransom was paid, saying however that the bandits asked for something.

“I don’t know anything about that (ransom), but what I know is that the bandits are asking us to give them something.

“We want to thank God, well wishers, relatives and the church of God who actually have been supporting to ensure that our children are released,” Jangado said.

Asked whether the Kaduna State Government has been assisting in ensuring the release of the children, Jangado said: “We want to thank God for what God is using our government to do. We want to pray that God will give them the grace to work very hard to see how we can be able to recover all children.”

Hopes were high that the students may be rescued following ongoing security operations against bandits and kidnappers terrorising the state.

However, it was learnt that the bandits may have been using the students as a shield to protect themselves from any onslaught from security operatives.

Courtesy (excluding headline) THISDAY