TheCable

The Kaduna police command has confirmed the release of a student abducted from Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, Kaduna.

A total of 121 students were abducted when the bandits invaded the school on July 5.

TheCable had on Monday reported that Abraham Aniya, the student, was rescued by security operatives alongside two other victims who were kidnapped by bandits some days ago along Kaduna-Kachia road.

Confirming their release, Mohammed Jalige, the command’s public relations officer, on Tuesday said the command’s mission to rescue all kidnap victims through intelligence-led policing and rigorous patrol had yielded result.

“On July 12, at about 1540hrs, operatives of the command, alongside Civilian JTF on routine rescue patrol around the forest of Tsohon Gaya village, Chikun LGA of Kaduna State, stumbled on three kidnapped victims roaming the bush, extremely exhausted and weak,” he said.

The police spokesman explained that the victims were safely evacuated and rushed to the Police Clinic in Kaduna for medical attention, adding that they would soon be handed over to their families.

Jalige said the command would not relentless in its efforts at ensuring that more victims are rescued.

Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, had told TheCable that the kidnappers called to say that they had released the student, who was becoming “weak”.

“The kidnappers themselves called us today. I think they kidnapped some people somewhere and one of the persons was sick,” Hayab said.

“So, they now called us and said that one of the boys is weak and they will release him with that sick person to come back.

“The boy is yet to be with us but any moment from now, he is going to be with us. So, we have one of the boys out. We are praying that this will lead to more and more other children coming back.”

He said negotiations were still going on for the release of the other students, adding that the foodstuffs demanded by the bandits had been delivered to them.