LAGOS, Nigeria: Nigerian police have arrested three suspects in connection with the abduction of more than 100 students at a Baptist school two months ago, police said. Gunmen stormed Bethel Baptist High School, abducting 121 students who were sleeping in their hostel on July 5, on the outskirts of Kaduna city in northwestern Kaduna state. Three of the captors have been arrested along with 47 other suspects accused of other crimes, national police spokesman Frank Mba said late Thursday (Friday in Manila). Armed gangs known locally as bandits have carried out a wave of kidnappings across northwest and central Nigeria, as well as looting and stealing cattle. The gangs have recently targeted schools and colleges, abducting students to squeeze ransom payments from parents and authorities.
