Fifteen of the remaining 80 abducted students of Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, Kaduna, have been released, leaving 65 of them in captivity.
Chairman of the Kaduna state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Joseph Hayab, confirmed the release in a telephone chat on Sunday.
Hayab said, “15 of the students were released on Saturday night, while 65 of them are still being held by bandits.”
The CAN chairman who did not give further details about their release, added that there would be no ceremony on reuniting the children with their parents as those whose children were released had been asked to picked them.
The bandits had on July 25, 2021, released the first batch of 28 students, promising that others would be released in batches.
The criminals were said to have demanded for a fresh ransom of N80m for the release of all the remaining 80 students, however it was learnt that after series of negotiations, an undisclosed amount of money was paid to secure their release.
Again, after collecting the money, the bandits were said to have reneged on the promised and released only 15 students.
The bandits had on July 5, invaded the school, located some few kilometers away from Kaduna metropolis and abducted 121 students.
So far 56 of the students had regained freedom.
Hopes were high that with the ongoing security operations against bandits and kidnappers terrorising Kaduna state, the students may be rescued.
