 15 more students of Baptiste High School kidnapped in Cardona State last month have regained freedom. They were released after the payment of an undisclosed ransom by their parents. About 140 students were kidnapped from the school, out of which 56 have been released and about three escaped. 63 more students are still in captivity. Baptiste Convention President Israel Akonji says efforts are earned to ensure no student is left behind. The number is smaller than what we were expecting because we have 78, we had 78 out there, they've given us 15, that means 63 to come. But in everything God says we should give thanks and we are giving thanks for what he has done and we are trusting that the same God who has brought this 15 out is going to help us to receive the other 63. Joining us live is the Cardona State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria Rev. Joseph Hayab. Good evening Mr. Hayab. Thank you very much. Good evening Nigerians and thank you very much. I don't know what I had to say congratulations but it must be a relief seeing more students release. How did this happen? You know that since the 28th we are released we've been negotiating and discussing with the bandit through one of our, through our representative that is the president of the parties in Cardona. He has been doing a very excellent job and we are supporting. Parents did their best to raise some funds and other spirited individuals also assisted but it was an understanding that they are going to release about 40 yesterday but the usual game again they ended up just releasing 15 so we still have 58 as has been quoted or 63 that has been quoted with the bandit. This is not what we wanted. We wanted to have all these children back because apart from the trauma of having their children there depends other parents are going to do when you keep releasing children and they come others don't see their children. We make them just feel that the whole world have come back. How do they look the ones that were released? Do they look well taken care of, much hated? It's even going to be wrong for us to ever imagine that the bandit would take care of our children. The parties that they were not looking good because they came yesterday and had some little attention in the night. Probably that's why what you're seeing looks a little bit bright but all the parents that have spoken with them I met, I got them in hospitals with their children. They will just say, Pastor, I'm already in hospital with my daughter. Pastor, I'm already in hospital with my son. Pastor, I'm already in hospital with my children. So people who are looking good cannot be taken to hospital immediately. These children cannot have said this number of these and we expect them they are going to look good. We've always just used good words as a way of encouraging ourselves because we know that the situation of these children is not good. Well, we know that parents had accused the Cardinal State government of not being supportive. Has that changed? Well, you see, there are too many different versions about this conversation. Number one, Cardinal State government to my mind have really never been supportive to every problem that people bring to our table. The governor usually have this very volatile posture to virtually everything and then recently he came with a new tactic so that he can quickly cover his traps by saying, No, I don't want to discuss with bandits. None of us have ever asked the governor to discuss with bandits. We will not even allow our government to discuss with bandits because if our government discuss with bandits then we'll have a serious problem in our hands. Because bandits will keep napping everybody in Cardinal State in their discussion with government. But what we just want from government is to do what constitutionally it is expected of her, protect lives and properties of citizens. When these children were there, they shut down all schools and say they are shutting down the schools because the military will go out there with some exercise to wipe out or to clear out the bandits. This is three weeks. Nothing has changed. We are still paying to get these children back. Talking about paying, talking about paying to get these children back, it must be hard on the parents, especially the parents are not financially very viable, strong. The students there that cannot afford, even 5,000 there, they will have to now put pressure on their relations over the church and other well wishers to get money. Some leaders have to go out of their way to begin to pay money from other people and add to whatever the parents can gather before we get these children. I have tried to explain this several times and said to the bandits, these parents are not rich parents. These parents are poor parents. These parents do not have the kind of money you are asking us. The fact is that for us to even raise the money we are giving you, we make tremendous sacrifice. Those who paid money the first time had to go and borrow the money. They have not even paid back the loan and their children didn't come back. And then they do not release their children. Similarly now, when another batch of God-dream came, some people gathered money among the parents. Not all of them actually give the amount that they were asking. Can you tell us how much total have been paid so far? We've paid a lot of money. I don't want to talk about the amount for now because we still have 63 students that are not back and we just want to keep figures to our chest until we have them. And what is the condition given before the remaining ones will be released? Money, money, money, money. I think all the bandits are doing is to get more money. And I keep asking this question. How can this bandit be receiving such kind of huge money? Not small money, sister. And are they keeping that money in the bush? I don't think I would agree with that. Where do they take that money? Do they launch that money in the bank? Are they keeping that money in somebody's house? Do we have intelligence at all that someone cannot follow and know what is going on? This is the problem we have. And these are some of the questions we are asking and we don't seem to have answers. And the way forward is, I guess, to wait until more money is gathered and given to them? Well, we decide that we shouldn't even wait another few hours if our security will act accordingly. We are not asking them to go and shoot the children or shoot anybody, but there is a way security can distract this bandit. There's a way security can put this bandit on the run to the extent that if they have collected any small money from us, they won't go and eat that money without waiting. But they are having a few days that they will collect money and give a small part of the children and act for another money because they are not in any haste. There's no one that is putting them under any fear. So they are comfortable. They will collect our money, wait again after two days. They ask us, okay, we won't release the second batch. You must give another money. And there's nothing. So now, I've said this and I want to repeat. The bandit seems to be the ones calling the shots and we have to wait. Well, on that sad note, we have to end this interview. Robin Joseph Hayab, thank you so much for your time. And we wish you and the rest of the parents whose children are being held all the best.