Kidnappers release 28 other kidnapped children in Nigeria | Nigeria News

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The attackers stormed Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna state on July 5, abducting 121 students from their dormitories.

Gunmen who arrested 121 students at a high school in northwest Nigeria in early July released 28 other teenagers, a school official said.

The attackers stormed Bethel Baptist High School in northwest Kaduna state on July 5, kidnapping students who were sleeping in their dormitories.

The kidnapping was the latest by heavily armed gangs, known locally as bandits, who have long plagued northwest and central Nigeria by looting, stealing cattle and kidnapping for ransom, but have recently targeted schools and colleges.

Joseph Hayab, one of the senior officials at Bethel Baptist High School, told AFP news agency on Sunday that 28 students had been released and were reunited with their parents.

“The bandits freed them yesterday (Saturday) and we were able to send religious buses to go where the kidnappers dropped them off to pick them up,” he said.

Kaduna state police were not immediately available for comment when contacted by AFP. Hayab said 34 children were now free, while 87 were still detained.

“Five children escaped on July 21 but only two were found by the police. The other three went to school on their own, ”he said.

“They escaped the bandits when they were sent to collect firewood for cooking.

“The bandits released a student two weeks ago for health reasons. “

After the kidnapping, the gang demanded food and ransom from the school to free the hostages.

“As a leader, I’ll be lying if I say there was no money at stake, but I won’t be able to tell you how much was given,” Hayab said.

“The most important thing now is to get all the remaining children released.”

Radika Bivan, a parent whose daughter was among those abducted, confirmed that 28 of them were released but said she had not seen her child among them.

Authorities in Kaduna had ordered the school and 12 others in the area to be closed following the kidnapping, without specifying when they could reopen.

About 1,000 students and pupils have been abducted across Nigeria since December. Most were released after negotiations with local authorities, although some are still in detention.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who is criticized for growing insecurity in the country, has ordered security forces to ensure the speedy and safe release of all kidnapping victims.



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