Two abducted students escape in Kaduna – Police

The Kaduna State Police Command on Thursday confirmed the escape of two of the abducted students of Bethel Baptist High School, Maraban Damishi in Chikun Local Government Area of the state.

ASP Mohammed Jalige, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed this in a press statement.

Jalige said the information reached the Command about the escape of the students on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalled that bandits had invaded the school and kidnapped unspecified number of students in the early hour of June 5. Jalige said on Wednesday at about 3:30am, the Command was informed by a good samaritan that two students of the school were sighted and believed to have escaped from their captors.

He said a report was lodged with the Divisional Police Officer, Rijana, who got hold of the students, after which investigation confirmed they were victims of the bandits.

He said: “The students said that on Tuesday, July 20 , 2021, at about 6pm, they were tasked by their captors to go and fetch firewood from the nearby forest where they were held hostage.

“They however, decided to take the opportunity of not being monitored and escape to Rijana community along Kaduna-Abuja highway.

“The two boys are currently undergoing medical examination at Police Medical facility before re-uniting them with their family, while tactical approach is being intensified to secure the release of the remaining students.”

In another development, the Command’s spokesperson also disclosed that mob lynched two unknown armed men on Wednesday in Kakuri area of Kaduna metropolis.

Jalige reiterated the call of the Command on the people of the state to avoid taking laws into their hands but should instead report suspicious characters to the appropriate authorities.…

Bandits confirm 121 Bethel Baptist School pupils in their custody

Abductors of pupils of Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna State have said the have 121 of them in their custody.

The President of Kaduna Baptist Conference and Proprietor of the school, Rev. Yahaya Adamu Jangado, revealed this.

Jangado announced this while addressing reporters on Tuesday after a meeting of the management and parents of the abducted students in Kaduna.

He said: “They came and, already, the bandits were going away with a number of our students and there was an exchange of fire between the soldiers and the bandits.

“For now, we know that we have 154 students in the school hostel, as at yesterday (Monday), after the exchange of fire between the soldiers and the bandits.

“We came to the school and recovered 28 students; some of them hid in many places.

“In the course of taking them away, some students escaped and came back to the school.

“So, the total number of students we recovered on Monday was 28.

“Today (Tuesday), by the grace of God, we had a call from the bandits and they assured us that our children are well and doing okay.

“In fact, we had the privilege of speaking with a few of them.

“They counted themselves in the jungle and they gave us information that they are 121.

“When we put the number together with what we have recovered, we discovered that the number is exactly the same with the number of students we had in the hostel.”

On ransom demand, Jangado said: “They (bandits) called us to say that our children are there with them and that they were doing well.

“They were sound.

“We spoke with a few of them.

“That is the information for now.

“We called the parents here to appreciate them for their patience, understanding and calmness and also solicit their support in this trying moment.

“We assure them that as management we will do anything possible to bring back their children.”…