One of the 121 abducted students of Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna, has been released due to illness.
According to reports, he was brought back by two people who were abducted by the same bandits and were released after their people had paid a ransom.
A member of Bethel Baptist Church, who pleaded for anonymity, disclosed this to newsmen yesterday. According to him, the parents of the released boy had taken him to the hospital and he has regained consciousness on Friday.
The student, who also spoke with newsmen, remarked that the bandits were treating all the students well, as their leader had warned that the students must not be molested or maltreated. The released student also said the bandits allowed them to observe their regular devotion, saying, “We sing choruses and pray loudly without molestation. The leader of the bandits said we must be allowed to worship our God”.
“They even ask us to pray for them each time they are leaving the camp, either for operations or market, so that they will return safely”, he added. He also revealed that the bandits had plenty of cows and goats and slaughtered one every two days to feed them.
However, the church member stated that the church was struggling to meet the conditions laid out by the bandits for the children to be released.
According to him, the bandits are asking for ?500,000 per child, which will take the total ransom payment request to ?60 million. It was gathered the bandits have given them today, Monday, as it must be paid before Sallah tomorrow.
According to the source, some amount has been gathered, but the church is trying to raise additional funds from members of the church and well-wishers secretly.
As at the time of filing the report, there was no statement from the Police or the State government on the release of the student.
