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Bandits Release Five More Bethel School Students in Kaduna
Five more abducted students of the Bethel Baptist Secondary School in Kaduna State have been released by bandits.
Also released is the Matron of the school.
The victims regained their freedom on Friday, after spending about 95 days in the custody of their abductors.
They were kidnapped on July 5 when a group of armed men invaded the school in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
Police authorities in Kaduna have yet to make any comment on the release of the students.
But the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Reverend Israel Akanji confirmed their release on Friday, adding that four remaining students were expected to be released soon.
A total of 121 students had been forcefully taken away from their hostels when the school came under attack by the assailants in July.
The bandits later released 28 of them on July 25, after a ransom was reportedly paid.
Thereafter, 15 additional students regained freedom from the captivity of their abductors on August 22.
Ten more students regained their freedom on September 18, and an additional 10 students on September 26.
October 9, 2021
Ten More Kidnapped Bethel Baptist School Students Regain Freedom
Ten more abducted students of Bethel Baptist Secondary school in Kaduna State have regained their freedom.
This is the fourth batch of the students released so far by their abductors.
The police are yet to confirm the development, but a top official of the school told Channels Television that the 10 students were released on Sunday afternoon, after an unspecified amount of money was paid as ransom to the kidnappers.
He also expressed optimism that the bandits will release the remaining eleven kidnapped students still in captivity in no distant time.
A total of 121 students of Bethel Baptist Secondary school in Chikun Local Government Area of the state were abducted by bandits from their hostels on July 5, 2021.
The students were later released in batches after their parents reportedly paid ransoms to their abductors.
September 27, 2021
10 More Bethel Baptist Students Regain Freedom
Ten more students abducted by bandits from the Bethel Baptist Secondary School in Kaduna State have been released.
The students regained their freedom on Saturday, after spending about 75 days in the custody of their abductors.
They were kidnapped on July 5 when a group of armed men invaded the school in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
Police authorities in Kaduna have yet to make any comment on the release of the students.
But a senior official of the school told Channels Television that the students were released after an undisclosed amount of money was paid to the bandits.
He explained that following their release, the students were reunited with their parents and taken to the hospital for treatment.
21 Students In Captivity
A total of 121 students were forcefully taken away from their hostels when the school came under attack by the assailants.
The bandits later released 28 of them on July 25, after a ransom was reportedly paid to them.
Thereafter, 15 additional students regained freedom from the captivity of their abductors on August 22.
More students were later freed, and the release of the new batch of students on Saturday brings the total number of students who have regained freedom so far to 100.
However, 21 other students of the school are held back in the custody of the bandits.
The spate of kidnapping for ransom payment spiked recently in Kaduna, with schoolchildren as targets for bandits.
Although authorities in the state have insisted that they will neither negotiate nor pay any money to the criminals, those whose families are victims have had a contrary view.
For such people, they are ready to consider all options that can lead to the release of their loved ones, not ruling out the payment of ransom.
Kaduna is not the only state battling banditry. These criminals have also attacked schools in other parts of the North West and North Central, with Zamfara among the worst-hit states.
September 19, 2021
Another 32 Bethel Baptist Students Regain Freedom
Another 32 students out of the 63 remaining abducted students of Bethel Baptist school in Chikun Local Government area of Kaduna State have regained their freedom.
Although the Kaduna State Government and police authorities are yet to confirm the development, a top official of Baptist School told Channels Television that the students regained their freedom on Friday.
He further said that the freed students have been handed over to their parents.
The kidnappers had on July 5 attacked the school and took away 121 students from their hostels.
The bandits released 28 of them on July 25, after a ransom was allegedly paid to the kidnappers.
On August 22, 15 more of the students were released by their captors.
At least 90 of the students have now regained their freedom while 31 remain in captivity.
Kidnapping for ransom has become common in Kaduna as well as other states in the North-West and North-Central as armed men increasingly become emboldened.
In the last year, bandits have attacked many communities in the regions, abducting scores and killing others.
During the period, several schools have come under attack with over 1,000 students kidnapped.
Most of the victims have since returned after their families paid ransom to the gunmen, but some are still in captivity.
August 28, 2021
Bandits Release 15 More Abducted Bethel Students
Fifteen more abducted students of Bethel Baptist Secondary School in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state have regained their freedom.
Although the government or security agencies are yet to confirm the development, a source in the school reveled that the 15 students were released on Sunday after a ransom was paid to the bandits.
Bandits suspected to be kidnappers had on July 5 attacked the school and took away 121 students from their hostels.
The bandits released 28 of them on July 25, after a ransom was allegedly paid to the kidnappers. The rest managed to escape from the captors between July 22 and August 3.
The release of the 15 students brings the total number of those freed so far to 56 while 65 others are still in captivity.
Kidnapping for ransom has become common in Kaduna as well as other states in the North-West and North-Central as armed men increasingly become emboldened.
In the last year, bandits have attacked many communities in the regions, abducting scores and killing others.
During the period, several schools have come under attack with over 1,000 students kidnapped.
Most of the victims have since returned after their families paid ransom to the gunmen, but some are still in captivity.
Despite the incessant attacks on communities in Kaduna, the state government says it will no longer consider the option of negotiation with the criminals.
August 22, 2021
Four More Bethel Baptist Students Regain Freedom
Four additional abducted students of Bethel Baptist Secondary School in Kaduna State have regained their freedom.
A top official of the school revealed on Monday that the four students escaped from the forest last night where they were held captive by their abductors.
The latest development, therefore, brings the total number of the rescued students to 38 out of the 121 that were abducted by bandits on July 5th.
Eighty-three other students are still in the custody of the kidnappers inside the forest, with their parents and the school management praying fervently for their safe return.
On Sunday, 28 more abducted students of the school also regained their freedom.
The students were found inside the Tsoho Gaya Forest in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of Sunday.
It is not clear whether the bandits released them for ransom or they were rescued by security operatives or escaped by themselves.
Three of the students were rescued by police operatives some days ago at a location also in Chikun Local Government Area and were later taken to a police medical facility for medical checks.
The bandits, who stormed their school on July 8, later demanded a ransom of ₦60million for the release of the students.
July 27, 2021
Emotional reactions as bandits free 28 Bethel Baptist Students
Parents of the 121 kidnapped students of Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna wept profusely when 28 of the abductees were released after 20 days in bandits’ den.
The parents, who could not control their emotions, as they were reunited with their frail and sick- looking children, said the last 20 days were traumatic for their respective families.
One of them Mrs. Esther Joseph, who thought her only child was not among the 28 freed students, fainted severally but was resuscitated by well- wishers.
Bandits invaded the school on July 5, 2021 and abducted 121 students.
Six of the students were released in three batches before the current release.
The newly released students, who were of varying ages across different classes from JSS 1 to SSS 3, were looking frail.
Some were limping and had to be supported by their joyous parents.
Narrating his traumatic experience during his daughter’s stay in captivity, Mr. Danboyi Bege, said he almost lost his life.
He said he was not sure whether his daughter was going to return alive.
He said her daughter, Louis, was kidnapped the day she was to start her NECO examinations, adding that she celebrated her 16th birthday with the bandits.
Bege said: “When they were abducted several thoughts went through my mind because thousands have gone and they killed them in the bush.
“I was just living by the grace of God. One that usually keeps me awake in the night is whenever I think of where she is, which bush she was being kept now. I won’t be able to sleep. But glory to God she is back.”
Another parent, Hosea Garba Maisamari said: “It has not been easy since we received the report, even for a day.
“The issue of ransom it is only the school management that can answer that but for us God has done it. He would continue his education in the school because this thing (kidnapping) happen everywhere even in the house. Government should take precaution and address the issue.”
Danladi Badi was very happy after receiving his daughter, Ruth.
He said: “I want to thank God because the only word on my lips now is gratitude to God who did it. Ruth was born April 8 2009 she is in JSS3. We are praying to God to grant us the release of the remaining students.”
Ndas Adamu received his son, Destiny, said: “I am feeling very happy, feeling like a complete father after receiving my son. He is 10 years old. While he was away, I always prayed to God to because I believe he would live up to his name.
“I don’t know the process of their release maybe ransom was paid or not but I believe God did His wonders.
“The God that has started the work will complete it to ensure the release of the remaining students. Our prayer would continue without ceasing, He owned all of us including the kidnappers.”
July 25, 2021
BREAKING: 28 Abducted Bethel Baptist Students Regain Freedom
28 more abducted students of the Bethel Baptist Secondary School in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have regained their freedom.
The students were found inside the Tsoho Gaya Forest in Chikun Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of Sunday.
It is not clear whether the bandits released them for ransom or they were rescued by security operatives or escaped by themselves.
Three of the students were rescued by police operatives some days ago at a location also in Chikun Local Government Area and were later taken to a police medical facility for medical checks.
121 students of Bethel Baptist secondary school in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state were abducted from their hotels by bandits on July 8.
The bandits later demanded a ransom of ₦60 ransom for the release of the students.
Armed kidnappings for ransom along highways, and from homes and businesses now make almost daily newspaper headlines in Africa’s most populous country.
But mass school abductions have soared this year, with almost 1,000 students kidnapped, according to UNICEF. Most are released after negotiations but many are still being held in forest hideouts like the Bethel pupils.
The list of missing from Bethel makes heartbreaking reading: 121 names, the oldest 19, the youngest just 10. Most are under 15.
“I am a mother and I would not like anybody to take my child away from me for one day. Imagine the trauma,” Hassana Ayuba, whose daughter Judith was taken.
“The children are harmless, the children did not offend anybody.”
The attack has devastated the tightly-knit, religiously faithful community. At the school, parents hold daily hours-long prayers and vigils and call for President Muhammadu Buhari to help free the children.
July 25, 2021
Police Rescue Two Abducted Bethel Baptist School Students
Two of the abducted students of Bethel Baptist Secondary school in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been rescued by police operatives.
They were rescued on Wednesday evening by police operatives in Rijanna area along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.
When contacted, the spokesman of the Kaduna state police command, Mohammed Jalige, told Channels Television that the two abducted students were have been taken to a police medical facility where they are currently undergoing medical examination.
121 students of Bethel Baptist secondary school in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state were abducted from their hotels by bandits on July 8.
Last week, the police rescued one of the students inside a forest, while two were rescued today, thereby bringing the number of those rescued to three.
Meanwhile, the bandits are demanding the sum of N60m as a ransom for the release of the kidnapped students.
July 22, 2021
BREAKING: Gunmen Invades Another Kaduna School, Abduct Students
Bandits have attacked Bethel Baptist School, a private college located at Maraban Rido area in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, abducting an unspecified number of students.
The kidnappers were said to have invaded the school, located along Kaduna – Kachia road in the early hours of Monday, and started shooting sporadically into the air before kidnapping the students.
Four of the students escaped while the rest were taken away by the bandits to an unknown destination.
Details shortly…
July 5, 2021