Bandits releasing our children in batches torturing, say Kaduna Baptist students’ parents

• 21 students still in captivity after freeing 10 Saturday

Parents of kidnapped Kaduna Baptist school students say the strategy of releasing their children in batches by the bandits is torturing.

They stated this in reaction to the latest release of 10 of the abducted students on Saturday evening, leaving 21 others still with the abductors.

Chairman of the Kaduna chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Joseph Hayab, said the students were released on Saturday.

He said the released students had reunited with their parents, adding that 21 others are still with their captors.

He said, “The bandits have released 10 more of our students to us this evening, remaining 21. They were released this evening and parents were taking their children home.”

Hayab lamented that releasing the students in batches amounted a “torture” for the parents.

“What the bandits are doing is to torture us. We are celebrating the return of 10 students, but we are having the challenge of those parents who have been waiting and every time, their child is not among those released,” he said.

“It is very painful, but we thank God that 10 students are back.”

The bandits invaded Bethel Baptist High School in Damishi, Kaduna State, on July 5, 2021 and abducted 121 students.

The bandits had subsequently said the students would be released in batches when they freed the first set of 28 on July 25, 2021 — after they reportedly collected a ransom of N100m.

Following the release of the 28 students, the bandits were said to have demanded another N80m as ransom for the remaining students.

President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Israel Akanji, had earlier said that no ransom will be paid for the release of the students.