Kaduna Baptist Conference: Bandits abducted 121 students from our school

The Baptist Conference in Kaduna says 121 students were abducted by bandits from Bethel Baptist High School in Damishi, Chikun LGA of the state.

The students were kidnapped when gunmen attacked the school in the early hours of Monday.

The police said they rescued 26 students after the attack.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday after a meeting with parents of the abducted students, Ishaya Jangadi, president of the Baptist Conference in the state, said 28 students were rescued Monday after a duel between security agents and the bandits.

Jangadi said the school was able to confirm that 121 of the students are still in captivity because they “had the privilege of speaking with a few of them”.

He said the abductors are yet to make any demand.

“We had the privilege of speaking with a few of them. They [the students] counted themselves in the jungle and they gave us information that they are 121 with the bandits,” Jangadi said.

“We met with the parents to appreciate them for their patience, understanding and calmness and to also solicit their support in these trying moments.

“We assured them as management of the school that we will do everything possible to see how we can recover our students. We are working together to see what we can do. We don’t know what the bandits will say.

“They may call for a ransom and will go for negotiation. We have agreed with parents to supervise in prayers and look up to God in this matter.”

A worker in the school, who didn’t want to be named, said the bandits were about 70 and they gained access into the school by scaling a fence.

“They should be about 70. They scaled the fence and when they came, they woke up the students and told them that they were soldiers who were in the school to protect them from kidnappers,” he said.

“So, the students believed them and started trooping out. Then suddenly, they started shooting and ordered all the students to follow them.”