Bethel Pupil Rejected Freedom, Ransom Bearer Abducted — CAN Chairman

Rev John Hayab, the Chairman of the Christian Association in Kaduna State, has expressed concern about the kidnapping of one of his members who was supposed to deliver the ransom for the release of the remaining kidnapped Bethel Baptist High School student by terrorists.

Hayab, who is also the Vice Chairman of CAN in the northern states and Abuja, reportedly revealed that the remaining pupil, who is said to be the youngest of the abductees, turned down the militants’ offer of freedom.

121 kids were kidnapped by bandits in the early hours of July 5, 2021, at the school premises along the Kaduna-Kachia highway, Damishi, in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state, according to the President of the Baptist Conference, Rev Ishaya Jangado.

The bandits had freed 120 students in groups.

The CAN chairman, on the other hand, stated that the teen opted to remain with the bandits, a situation that perplexed the entire Baptist family, as well as CAN.

The robbers were alleged to be showering the youngster with presents every time they went out and returned from operations, causing him to refuse the option of freedom, according to Hayab.

The CAN leader, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH in Kaduna on Thursday, 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.”