Kidnappers free two Plateau clerics

Two clerics, Evangelist Nuhu Bakwa, and his colleague, who were abducted about four days ago by gunmen in Plateau State, have regained their freedom.

It was learnt that the two victims were released on Thursday night after an undisclosed ransom was paid by their relatives.

The two clergymen were abducted on Monday at Bisichi in the Jos South Local Government Area of the state and whisked to an unknown destination while on their way to Jos, the state capital.

The abductors had earlier contacted the family and demanded a ransom of N10m and also threatened to kill them if the money was not paid on time.

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However, a source close to the family on Friday revealed that the two clerics were released at about 8:30pm on Thursday after the payment of the ransom, adding that they were picked up by their relatives in the area where they were abducted.

“The kidnapped Rev Nuhu Bakwa and a friend, a pastor, were released at about 8:30pm 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 receiving medical attention,” the source added.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Bartholomew Onyeka, said men of the Command were making concerted efforts to track down the perpetrators of the crime.

Onyeka also called on the people of the state to be wary of undesirable elements and their internal collaborators in various communities engaging in kidnapping.

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