John Shiklam in Kaduna
Treasure Ayuba, the last victim of the 121 students of Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna, who were abducted in 2021 has escaped from captivity after over two years.
The 13-year-old Ayuba returned home on Thursday at about 4p.m. to reunite with his parents.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Joseph Hayab, Chairman of Kaduna State chapter of Christian Association Nigeria (CAN) confirmed Ayuba’s escape back home.
On July 5, 2021, bandits invaded the school located about 4 kilometres outside Kaduna metropolis and abducted 121 students.
The bandits later released the students in batches, collecting millions of naira for the release of each batch of students.
Hayab said speculation that Ayuba was released by the bandits but refused to return home was not true.
“We are grateful to God for the escape of Treasure Ayuba, one of the 121 students of Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna on July 5, 2021. When all hope seemed to be lost, God did His miracle,” Hayab said.
He said Ayuba arrived home at about 4p.m. on Thursday after a journey of over seven hours.
He said Ayuba’s parents immediately called him (Hayab) and handed over the boy to him.
“The boy looked healthy but he was vomiting after eating food so we took him to the hospital for medical examination,” Hayab said.
“I have interacted with him and he told me how he escaped from his captors.
“Contrary to speculations that the boy chose to live with the bandits, the true story is that his abductors decided that they will keep him as a reward to convert him to Islam, so that he could marry and raise Muslim children,” Hayab said.
Speaking further, the CAN chairman said after escaping from the kidnappers’ den, “Ayuba got to a town which he couldn’t identify, but there was a bus looking for passengers going to Kaduna.
“He paid N6,000 as transport fare and got to Kaduna after over seven hours’ drive.
“He told me that since the bandits considered him as one of them, they allowed him free movement in their enclave.
“He told me that whenever the bandits were going on their operations, they left him at ‘home’.
“He said they often give him some pocket money after their operations.
“He was the youngest among those abducted, so they were treating him as a small child. They were calling him ‘smally’ and he was given special treatment.
“He was given two mobile telephones by his kidnappers but he couldn’t contact his parents or anybody because he had no anybody’s telephone number.
“He told me that those who abducted the students were either killed during kidnapping operations or in airstrikes.”
