Crime Nigeria Top Story

Ten more Bethel Baptist students freed, 11 still in captivity

Ten more students who were kidnapped by gunmen from Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna, two months ago have been released after a ransom was paid, the school administrator has said.

The bandits have been releasing the students in batches after getting ransom payments.

The Administrator of the Bethel Baptist High school, Reverend John Hayab, said after the latest release, 11 students remained in captivity and the school was working to ensure they were freed soon.

A mother reunited with her daughter who had spent many days in captivity after she was kidnapped from her school, Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, Kaduna. File photo.

“I am happy to tell you that 10 of our abducted students of Bethlem Baptist High school have regained their freedom but had to pay ransom,” he told Reuters late on Sunday.

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He declined to say how much was paid.

Such kidnappings at schools in Nigeria were first carried out by jihadist group Boko Haram, and later its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province, but the tactic has been adopted by other gangs seeking ransom.

About 150 students were missing after armed men raided the school in Kaduna state in the northwest in July, the 10th mass school kidnapping since December, which authorities attributed to criminal gangs seeking ransom.

(with Reuters reports)

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