Bandits have reportedly released 10 of the remaining 31 abducted students of Bethel Baptist High School in Damishi, Kaduna state.
According to TheCable, Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Kaduna chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), confirmed the release of the students on Saturday.
It would be recalled that bandits suspected to be kidnappers had on July 5 attacked the school and took away 121 students from their hostels.
Read Also: Kaduna Baptist Conference: Bandits Abducted 121 Student From Our School
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 at least 65 others are still in captivity.
Read Also: Kaduna School Abduction: 28 More Students Regain Freedom
Then on August 28, another batch of 32 abducted students of Bethel Baptist High School, Maraban Damishi, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state, regained their freedom, bringing the total of those released to 90.
Hayab confirmed the release of the students to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, in Kaduna, saying;
Yes, 32 of our students were freed on Friday evening. We still have 31 with the captors and we are praying that they too will be released soon.
We expected more of that figure. We had been on it since yesterday (Thursday). They have been reunited with their parents and they are taking them straight to the hospital for treatment. No time to waste.
Read Also: Bandits Release Another 32 Kaduna Baptist Students, 31 Still In Captivity – CAN
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.
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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.
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Despite the incessant attacks on communities in Kaduna, the state government says it will no longer consider the option of negotiation with the criminals.
