From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The President of the Baptist Conference, Kaduna, Rev. Ishaya Jangado, has said he was not aware of the fresh demand by the kidnappers of Bethel, Baptist School students as there was no update from the bandits.
He made the assertion while reacting to the report that the kidnappers of the students are demanding an additional ransom of N50 million to release the remaining 83 students in their custody.
Jangado, who is also the proprietor of the school, said up till now there is no update, and they are still waiting for them to release the remaining students,
It could be recalled that the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Rev. Israel Akanji, had said that the church did not pay any ransom for the release of the students.
According to him, he was not in a position to say whether the parents and well-wishers paid ransom to the bandits.
He pointed out that “there are parents, well-wishers, and neighbours who are struggling for the children to be released, therefore we cannot restrict people from their actions in getting the children out, but as a group, we do not believe in paying the ransom.”
However, it was reported that after allegedly collecting N100 million ransom and promised to release in batches, students in their captivity, the gunmen reneged on their promise and have asked for a fresh N50 million ransom before they would release the remaining 83 students.
Also, a close source told journalists that “after the parents contributed N100 million for the release of their children, the bandits ended up releasing only 28 of them, promising that others will be released in batches.
“Now they are demanding an additional ransom of N50 million to release the remaining 83 students in their custody.”
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