There was anxiety among parents of the remaining 87 abducted students of Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna, after they found out that their children were not among the 28 released on Sunday morning.
The parents had all waited at the school’s premises on Sunday morning when news filtered in that some of the students had been released. However, after searching through as the children alighted from three buses to reunite with their parents, some began to wail upon discovering that their children were not among them.
Arewa Trust observed how some of the parents became inconsolable as they watched others reunite with their children in tears of joy.
“What is happening to us, oh Lord help free my daughter,” one of the mothers was heard saying as she lay on the ground.
Mr Irmaya’u, whose son is still in captivity, said: “What can we do if not to continue to pray to God to intervene so that all the remaining children are released soon; this is worrisome.”
Also, mother of one of the freed students, Mrs Esther Joseph, said she could not sleep throughout the period her daughter was in the hands of bandits.
“Honestly, I was confused the very day I heard of the abduction and since then, I couldn’t sleep. In fact, prayers became difficult, but we thank God she is among those released and we pray other students will be released soon,” she said.
Mr Bege Damboyi whose daughter was released said he nearly ran mad after his 16-year-old daughter and other students were abducted from the school on July 5.
“She just celebrated her 16th birthday on 23rd July while still in captivity. I nearly ran mad because if she had died and I was able to bury her, then one can be consoled and move on, but the agony of not knowing where your child is is unimaginable. I kept asking myself which bush she was taken to. But we thank God she is back alive,” he said.
