Ten students of Bethel Baptist School in Kaduna were on Saturday released with 21 others still being held by bandits.

The Vice President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (19 Northern States and Abuja) and chairman of CAN in Kaduna State, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, confirmed this to The PUNCH.

He said, “10 students were released this (Saturday) evening and have reunited with their parents. We are now hoping that the remaining 21 who are still with the bandits will be released.”

CAN had accused the government of abandoning the remaining 31 students of Bethel Baptist High school in Damishi area of Kaduna in the bush with bandits.

While describing the government’s action as bad and condemnable, the organisation said parents of the children have not known sleep since their abduction.

Hayab, said this alarm in a statement sent to our correspondent, titled: ‘Our government has abandoned the 31 Bethel Baptist High School in Damishi, Kaduna children in the bush with bandits.’

He said, “The silence about the Baptist High School, children still in the hands of their captors is bad and condemnable. These children were taken away from their school on 5th July 2021. Our leaders are silent as if all is well when truly all is not well. How can it be well when parents of these 31 children have not known sleep for these 67 days? Any caring leader will also not sleep.

“These children should be released or rescue without delay. We all know that Kaduna State government closed down schools for over a month claiming that the military will go after bandits and have again asked all schools to reopen without bringing back our children.

“What happens with the military exercise that leads to the closure of schools? Was it just another drama to divert the attention of parents and those sympathizing with the parents from the real situation? The Church in Kaduna State will never keep quiet till all our children and everyone in captivity is released and return home.”

Source: Punch