Breaking: 28 abducted Baptist students regain freedom, over 90 still missing

Twenty-eight of the kidnapped students of Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna have regained their freedom, leaving well over 90 students still captivity.

Recall that some bandits had in the early hours of July 5, 2021, invaded Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria, and kidnapped 153 students.

As of July 6, 2021, 28 of the students were recovered, while 125 were declared missing.

The Nigerian Baptist Convention had approached some of its churches in order to raise the ransom demanded by bandits for the release of some students abducted from Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna State.

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The proprietor, who is also the President, Kaduna Baptist Conference, Rev. Ishaya Jangado, disclosed that no fewer than 121 students were abducted by the bandits.

One of the students was later released by the bandits on health grounds. After a series of negotiations, the bandits who initially demanded N100m ransom reduced it to N60m.

It was gathered that earlier on Wednesday, the convention had reached out to some churches in the fold for contribution towards freeing the schoolchildren.

A member of the church in Lagos State said that the pastor of his church forwarded a WhatsApp message to one of the churches platforms at the request of the NBC, urging members to contribute to freeing the children.

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The message reads partly, “The latest situation as of this morning is that … so far … has been pulled together from different contributors… Please if we could have more from our people, it will help us. Thanks. We desire to close this deal by the end of the Sallah break in order to have the children back, possibly by the weekend.”

The member said since Wednesday there had been efforts by members to help free the children.

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The body’s Director of Publications, Reverend Ijaola Adelokoji, when contacted said, “I am not authorised to speak on the matter, but there will be a press conference to let everyone know the state of things.”