CAN: Two Kaduna Baptist school students released — one still in captivity

The Kaduna chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says two more abducted students of Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, Chikun LGA have regained their freedom.

John Hayab, the chairman of the chapter, said this in a statement on Saturday.

He confirmed that a total of 120 abducted students of the school have been freed so far.

He said the number of the released students includes one student who was freed on December 28, 2021 and another one who was freed on January 1.

“With the release of these two students, a total of 120 students have regained their freedom so far and only one student is still with the bandits,” he said.

On July 5, bandits invaded the school and kidnapped 121 students.

But On July 25, the first set of 28 students were freed after the bandits reportedly collected a ransom of N100 million.

Since the release of the first set, at least 117 students have regained their freedom in batches.

In October, Hayab had cried out about four of the students still in captivity, calling for the government’s intervention.

“It is sad to again remind us that despite different security measures put forward by the government in Kaduna state, our children of Bethel Baptist High School who were kidnapped since July 5th 2021 at the school premises in Damishi, Kaduna, have not all yet been released,” he had said.

“We have prayed and we are still praying. We have appealed and cried out to the government and those who we thought are responsible for the security of our nation, but the journey to freedom for these children has been with the speed of a snail.”

In November, the chairman said one student was released after a payment of N5 million ransom.

Ransom was said to have been paid on each batches of the students released.