Four Students of Kaduna Baptist Students Still in Captivity, CAN Laments

John Shiklam

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State, yesterday challenged well meaning Nigerians to help secure the release of the remaining four students of Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, Kaduna.

The association noted that despite different security measures put forward by the Kaduna State Government, four of the 121 students of Bethel Baptist High kidnapped three months “are still in captivity.”

The Chairman of Kaduna CAN, Rev. Joseph Hayab expressed these concerns yesterday in a statement, lamenting the plight of the kidnapped students in captivity.

On July 5, bandits invaded the school, abducting 121 students. The bandits have been releasing the students in batches, with parents paying fresh ransom for each batch of students released.

So far, four batches of students, totalling 117, have been released from the captivity including those who escaped. But four are still in captivity. A total of over N200 million has been paid as ransom to the bandits before the students were released.

In his statement yesterday, Hayab expressed sadness that the students “are still held in the captivity of bandits since their abduction over three months ago.

“It is sad to again remind us that despite different security measures put forward by the government in Kaduna state, our children of Bethel Baptist High School who were kidnapped since July 5 at the school premises in Damishi Kaduna have not all yet been released.”

“Parents, relations, school management and church leaders are worried about the condition of the four students. We have prayed and we are still praying.

“We have appealed and cried out to government and those who we thought are responsible for the security of our nation, but the journey to freedom for these children has been with a speed of a snail.

“CAN Kaduna state therefore, wish to let Nigerians know that we still have four of our school children in captivity.

“The pains and trauma their parents are going through can not be described. We must not forget these children and we are pleading with all spirited Nigerians to join us to appeal to those concerned or do anything they can to help bring the four remaining children back home”, he said.

Hayab said CAN desired to see the end of banditry and kidnapping in Kaduna state and other parts of Nigeria.

He said it was sad that more people were still being kidnapped despite the security measures put in place by the government.

In spite of the steps taken by the Kaduna state government to end banditry and kidnapping, according to the statement, the criminals have been going about terrorising communities.

On October 3, the statement said a total of 46 persons were kidnapped in Guguwa, Kote DNA and Kote Assembly communities in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.

On October 23, the statement said nine victims from Dangyolmi village also in Chikun LGA were kidnapped adding that the bandits were demanding for N50 million ransom.

He added that one of the victims who was shot by the bandits died on Saturday morning, calling on the government to “double its efforts to stop the evil these criminals are causing fellow citizens.”