Bandits who kidnapped 121 students of Bethel Baptist High School, Mararaba Damishi, Kaduna, have released 32 out of the 63 students remaining in their captivity.
Kaduna State Chapter Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. John Joseph Hayab who confirmed the development, said the children were handed over to their parents yesterday evening.
The CAN Chairman said the parents were advised to immediately take their wards to the hospital for medical check up, as they were received very sick and exhausted.
According to Rev. Hayab, “the children looked so weak, sick and tired. So, the parents were advised to take their wards to hospital this night for medical check up.”
With the latest development, 90 of the 121 kidnapped students have been released and 31 are still in captivity.
Meanwhile, parents of the kidnapped students of Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, Kaduna have been traumatized and dejected, as their children have remained in bandits’ captivity 53 days after their abduction.
It would be recalled that, bandits broke into the school located at Damishi along the Kaduna – Kachia highway, Chikun Local Government Area of the state on the 5th of July and whisked away 121 students.
The kidnappers however released 28 of the students on Sunday July 25 after receiving N50 million ransom and later released few others on health ground, while some escaped on their own.
Release of the 28 as much as it made some happy, threw parents who did not see their own children into confusion and agony.
The bandits reportedly made fresh demand of ransom on the remaining 78 students, part of which was paid.
The development led to the release of another 15 of the students last Saturday, making the total number of students remaining in the kidnappers captivity 63.
Though, President of the Baptist Convention, Rev. Israel Akanji while reuniting the last batch of the freed students with their parents last Sunday said, the entire 78 were expected, but they were surprised to receive only 15, but that, the church was thankful to God and trusting Him that the rest will return soonest.
According to Rev. Akanji, “we are grateful to God for the release of these 15 children. Although, the number is smaller than what we expected, because we had 78 out there; they have given us 15, that means 63 to come, but in everything, God said, we should give thanks and we are grateful for what He has done. And we are trusting that, the same God will help us to receive the remaining 63. We have great hope in God and we will keep praying and keep asking God for help.
“We do not know why they did not release all the children; we were really expecting all the children, but these are the ones we have. So, we are giving thanks to God and we are trusting God that others too will come,” he said.
One of the parents of the remaining 63 students was agitated and apparently traumatized, as he said the only thing he wants to hear is that his child is back safely.
Asked what he and other parents were doing to get the children out of captivity, he said, “what can we do? What do you want me to do when we have paid and they refused to release our children and now they are asking for more money?
“In fact, why are you even asking me this question? Please don’t call me, if you are not calling to inform me that my child is back. That is the only thing I want to hear please.” He said.
Another parent simply said, “my brother, what can we do than to pray? Because, we are seriously in a state of confusion, we are sick, we cannot sleep when we think of the condition of our children in the bush.”
The Nation
