Bandits who invaded Maraban Rido in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Monday and abducted some students of the Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, have reached out to the management of the institution to demand foodstuffs.
The Punch reports that the hoodlums asked for food items such as rice, beans, seasoning and oil to feed the students.
A member of the school management, confirmed to The Punch on Tuesday that the bandits said 121 students of the school were in their custody. According to the school official, the bandits first called on Monday and allowed one of the students to speak to a top member of the school management.
It was learnt that they called again on Tuesday and allowed two senior students, a boy and a girl, to speak to a top official of the school.
It was gathered that the senior students confirmed that there were 121 of them with the bandits.
The official, who confided in The PUNCH, said, “When the phone rang, the bandits first spoke to the member of the management. They said a senior student was directed to count the students in their custody and the boy confirmed that 121 students were being held. They also asked for food such as rice and beans as well oil to feed the students.
“Later, the senior student, who counted the abductees, said there were 121 of them with the bandits.”
The proprietor of the school, who is also the President, Kaduna Baptist Conference, Rev Ishaya Jangado had earlier confirmed to newsmen that no fewer than 121 students were in the custody of the kidnappers.
He said 28 students were “recovered” on Monday after the bandits attacked the school. He further explained that the total number of students in the boarding house was 154 and that 28 were recovered, while 121 were in the bandits’ custody. He, however, did not provide any explanation on the remaining five students.
Meanwhile, a parent disclosed to Punch that the bandits actually notified the management that they were coming to attack the school.
The warning, the parent said, was ignored by both the guardian of the boys’ hostel and matron of the girls’ hostel when the students took the letter to them, adding that the teachers taunted the students for being eager to go home for holiday.
She stated, “The bandits actually wrote the school a letter on Sunday that they were going to attack it on Tuesday before striking on Monday.
“The students took the letter to their guardian and he said to them that they didn’t want to be in school and that they were trying to look for an excuse to leave school.
“They took the same letter and gave it to the matron of the girls’ hostel; she also acted the same way. The children in their innocence believed them and never said anything until the bandits struck on Monday. The bandits notified the school of their coming, but the students acted otherwise.”