Bethel Baptist Students: Bandits Make Fresh Demands

The bandits who kidnapped students of Bethel Baptist Highway School, Maraban Damishi, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have again failed to keep their end of the bargain.

The Bandits have refused to release the remaining Bethel students still in captivity after a ransom has been paid.

According to reports, the bandits have demanded a fresh N50 million ransom after allegedly collecting N100 million and six brand new motorcycles as demanded.

It was earlier reported that 121 students were abducted in the school on July 5, but at present, 38 have reunited with their families; the remaining 83 students are in the kidnappers’ den.

A source has disclosed to journalists that “after the parents contributed N100 million for the release of their children, the bandits ended up releasing only 28 of them, promising that others will be released in batches.

“Now they are demanding an additional ransom of N50 million to release the remaining 83 students in their custody.

“The parents are hopeless and devastated by this development having sold everything they had to raise N100 million that was given to the bandits”, the source said.

However, President of the Baptist Conference, Kaduna, Rev. Ishaya Jangado, who also doubles as the proprietor of the school, said he was not aware of the fresh demand, as there was no update from the bandits.

“Up till now there is no update, we are still waiting for them to release the remaining students,” he said.

Some of the students had escaped from the bandits camp. On July 23, two of the students escaped after the bandits asked them to get wood from a neighbouring village.

Also, less than 72 hours after some of the abducted students were released by the bandits and reunited with their parents, there was news that another four escaped from the bandits camp.

This was confirmed by the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State, Rev. John Hayab, in Kaduna.

READ ALSO:

• 28 More Abducted Bethel Baptist School Student Regain Freedom
• Kidnappers Of Bethel Baptist School Students Demand ₦60m Ransom

“Yes, another four students escaped from their abductors on Sunday, July 25, and have been reunited with their parents,” Hayab said.

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