One Christian student remains captive after three others escaped abduction on Thursday (April 29) by Muslim Fulani herdsmen from a Christian missions school in Plateau state, Nigeria, sources said.
School and government officials said the four students were kidnapped from The King’s School, a Christian missions school established by Calvary Ministries (CAPRO) in Gana Ropp village, Barkin Ladi County.
“Please pray for us, as we’re under attack here at our school in Gana Ropp village,” Bayo Famonure, head of the institution, had said in a text message to Morning Star News on Thursday (April 29).
After security agents repelled the herdsmen, Famonure sent another message to Morning Star News: “Four students were kidnapped, three escaped from the herdsmen, and one student is still being held captive.”
He added that security agents said they believe the herdsmen might be close by, “as the student being held by them phoned us to say they were already in the Fulani herdsmen’s camp, barely 20 minutes after he was captured and taken away.”
The Rev. Gideon Para-Mallam, president of the Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, said the attackers broke the rear fence of the school, drilling a hole to gain access to the compound and abducted the students.
Para-Mallam told Morning Star News by phone that security agencies prevented what could have been another mass abduction.
“Bayo Famonure, head of the institution, said that the herdsmen took to their heels after realizing the reinforcement of security agents in the area,” Para-Mallam said. “Let’s pray that God will work out the release of the abducted student, and as many that are also in captivity, especially students of Greenfield university and College of Forestry & Mechanisation both in Kaduna, Chibok girls in Borno, Leah Sharibu and others, in Jesus’ name.”
Gana Ropp village is located along the Jos-Barkin Ladi-Bokkos highway, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Jos.
CAPRO is an international, interdenominational Christian missions agency in Nigeria with more than 700 missionaries from 26 countries serving in 35 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa. The school is the educational arm of CAPRO.
Police authorities in Jos confirmed the attack on the institution and said both police and military personnel have been deployed to the area to rescue the kidnapped student.
“Concerted efforts are on towards rescuing the victim and arresting the perpetrators,” said police spokesman Ubah Gabriel Ogaba in a press statement.