Two clerics, Evangelist Nuhu Bakwa and his pastor friend, who were abducted about four days ago by gunmen in Plateau State, have regained freedom from their abductors.
The Punch reported that the two victims were released on Thursday night after their relatives paid an undisclosed ransom.
The two clergymen who were on their way to Jos on Monday, were abducted at Bisichi in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau to an unknown location.
The abductors initially contacted the family and demanded a ransom of N10 million, also threatening to kill them if the money was not paid on time.
An unnamed source close to the family on Friday revealed that the two were maltreated during custody and were released at about 8:30 p.m. on Thursday after the ransom had been paid.
“The kidnapped Rev. Dr. Nuhu Bakwa and a friend, Pastor, were released at about 8:30 on Thursday after payment of the ransom. The victims were dropped by the kidnappers at the same spot they were kidnapped: a filling station at Maraba Jama, close to the NDLEA checkpoint.
“The two pastors were maltreated and wounded; they could not walk properly due to the severe beating. They are presently recieving medical attention.”, the unnamed source disclosed.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Bartholomew Onyeka, has said that men of the Command were making efforts to track down perpetrators of the incident.
He also urged indigenes of the state to be wary of the undesirable elements and their internal collaborators in various communities engaging in the kidnapping.
“Based on the study I have carried out, there is no case of kidnapping without an indictment. It must be somebody who might have known such a person personally. It is very reckless to stop somebody in the road and kidnap him; there must be prior information.” He said.