By Abba Gwale
Reports from Kaduna state confirmed that eight members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Region 30, Trinity Sanctuary, Kaduna, were on Friday abducted by gunmen.
The victims were on the church bus travelling along Kachia for a programme when they were kidnapped.
A credible source and an official of the church, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the report.
He said, “They were eight in number on the bus. They were going to Kachia in preparation for the church’s Let’s Go a Fishing Easter programme. The gunmen took them out of the bus and put them in their own operational vehicle. They have yet to contact the church.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Jalige, said he was still making enquiries on the incident.
He said, “I have contacted our officers along that axis. Actually, we have three divisions in that area. I have got responses from two divisional police officers, who said they were not aware of the incident. I am just waiting for the response of the third DPO. When I get it, I will let you know.”
Recall that Parents of the students Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, had on Monday, protested and given Kaduna State and the Federal Government 48 hours to rescue the students, lamenting that they were worried about the health of their children, some of whom they said sustained injuries during their abduction.
Bandits had on the night of March 11 abducted no fewer than 30 students from the school, located opposite the Nigerian Defence Academy on Airport Road.
The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, said in a statement that checks by the government revealed that 39 persons, comprising 23 females and 16 males, were missing.
He, however, gave an assurance that security agents were working hard to rescue the students, noting that troops of the Nigerian Army from 1 Division prevented the bandits from taking away more students and that they were able to rescue 180 persons.
The state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, had insisted that his government would not negotiate with bandits, who demanded N500m ransom.
The bandits also warned that the students would not go home alive should any attempt be made to rescue them.
