Dr Abu Babatunde, the medical physician kidnapped alongside his brother in Auchi, Edo, on Jan. 1, has regained his freedom after spending two weeks in captivity.
The Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) experiences that Babatunde, a Home Officer at Edo College Educating Hospital, Iyamho, was kidnapped alongside his youthful brother, Abu Tahir, a newly-graduated medical physician from Ambrose Alli College, Ekpoma.
NAN additionally experiences that the 2 brothers have been kidnapped on the gate of their residence in Igbira Camp, Auchi, shortly after getting back from work.
Whereas the abductors initially demanded a N200 million ransom for the duo, the incident, nonetheless, took a tragic activate Jan. 6 when Tahir was stated to have been killed by the abductors.
His physique was later found by safety operatives close to a riverside.
Despite the killing, the abductors continued to carry Babatunde, subsequently lowering the ransom demand to N100 million and later to about N40 million, following negotiations with the household.
The information of Babatunde’s launch, nonetheless, broke on Wednesday night time by a viral video circulated on social media.
The video indicated that the physician was rescued round 8 p.m. by native hunters and vigilance teams throughout a coordinated operation within the forest.
Within the footage, the vigilantes have been seen helping the visibly weak physician right into a ready car.
A narrator within the video claimed that one of many abductors was neutralised in the course of the rescue operation.
He stated that Babatunde sustained a gunshot damage in his leg, leaving him unable to stroll unaided after being carried over an extended distance from a deep forest.
Confirming the event, Dr Eustace Oseghale, Chairman of Edo department of Nigerian Medical Affiliation (NMA), stated the affiliation was conscious of the physician’s launch.
Oseghale stated that the state govt council of NMA was in a gathering and would challenge an official assertion shortly.
The Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in Edo, ASP Eno Ikoedem, additionally confirmed the discharge of the medical practitioner to NAN on Thursday.
Ikoedem stated that Babatunde had since been reunited together with his household.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq
