Bethel Student in Kidnappers' Den Refuses to Leave

Bethel Student in Kidnappers’ Den Refuses to Leave

News - Women's Perspective

The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna State, Rev John Hayab has revealed that the only Bethel Baptist School student still left in the kidnappers’ den has refused to go home.

On July 5 2021, 121 pupils of the school were kidnapped from the premises along the Kaduna-Kachia highway, Damishi in the Chikun Local Government Area of the State.

The bandits have so far released 120 of the captives leaving only one who is said to be the youngest.

CAN also disclosed that one of their members who usually delivered ransom to the bandits has equally been held captive by the terrorists.

Speaking to Saturday PUNCH, Hayab disclosed that the teenager, who is the youngest of all those abducted, preferred to remain with the bandits, a development that puzzled the entire members of the Baptist family.

According to the CAN chairman, the little boy has been reportedly showered with gifts each time the bandits went out and came back.

Hayab said, “Only one pupil of the Bethel Baptist High School is remaining with the terrorists. The reason is that this young boy – because we have to be clear with the story so that we don’t get misquoted – is the smallest among them.

“I think the kidnappers were smart. They worked and changed his mind that he even said he wants to stay with them. They (terrorists) gave him meat, good things. Anytime they go out and come back, they pick him among the rest and give him so many things and then he starts acting funny.

“If they (terrorists) tell him to go home, he would say he was not going and gave some flimsy excuses that his parents used to beat him at home. But we also made findings and we don’t want to expose his parents to any noise but that is what he (the pupil) said. We are confused too.

“But I understand they (terrorists) are playing mind games with him by giving him gifts and convincing him to talk that way. But last week, they (terrorists) asked us to bring some money (ransom) to come and take him. The person who took the money to them was kidnapped. The person is with them as I speak now (on Thursday).

“So, it’s a very complicated situation that we are praying and managing with care. The man who has been helping us to deliver the money (ransom) all this while went to deliver the money to free this boy they were confusing and they kidnapped him. So, the whole thing is taking a different dimension and we need to be careful.”

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Bethel Student in Kidnappers’ Den Refuses to Leave