Bandits release 32 Baptist students abducted in northern Nigeria

By Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu

KANO, Nigeria (AA) - The head of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna State confirmed to Anadolu Agency on Friday the release of 32 Baptist students who were abducted by bandits last month.

“The students have been released this evening, leaving 31 with the bandits,” said Joseph Hayab.

He said the students from the Baptist High School Kaduna in northern Nigeria were reunited with their parents.

Police spokesman Mohammed Jalige confirmed the release.

When 15 students were freed, officials “learnt our lesson from the experience of the last release of 28 of the abducted students. It turned out to be that of mixed feelings particularly for those whose children are still in captivity, so we will simply call their parents and reunite them with their children,” he said. “We are, however, not relenting efforts until we secure the release of all the remaining students and in good health.”

The cleric lamented the back and forth efforts for the release by the bandits and implored all to remain hopeful and prayerful while everything is being done to free the students.

He gave assurances that the students will be released soon.

Fifteen students were released by the bandits last Friday after gunmen invaded the school and abducted 121 students on July 5.

The latest release comes one day after students at an Islamic school in Tegina, in Niger State in north central Nigeria were freed after 88 days in captivity.