Photos, video of freed 28 Baptist High School students reuniting with their parents in Kaduna

It was an emotional scene on Sunday as 28 of the students of Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, Kaduna kidnapped by bandits were reunited with their parents after spending 20 days in captivity.

Many of the parents held their children in warm embrace as they cried in relief for their eventual return after days of anguish and uncertainty.

A total of 121 students were abducted from their school hostels by bandits on July 5.

One of the students, Abraham Aniya, was rescued by security operatives alongside two victims who were kidnapped in a separate incident along Kaduna-Kachia road on July 12. Two other students escaped when they were asked to fetch firewood from a nearby forest on July 20, making a total of three students who regained freedom.

The authorities of Baptist Church in Kaduna said the 28 are the first batch of students to be released by the bandits, who promised to release the captives in batches.

They said the bandits called with instructions as to where to find the first batch and when they got to the location, they found the 28 students.

About 80 students are still with the bandits and they are expected to be returned shortly.

See more photos and video of the pupils reuniting with their parents below…