Kingsley Okorafor, a top officer with the Niger Delta Development Commission, was taken hostage in the early hours of Saturday and has since been freed.
Okorafor was kidnapped in Umuadara Umulogho, an autonomous village in Imo State’s Obowo Local Government Area.
The victim was abducted last Friday while returning from the funeral of Innocent Anyanwu, the traditional ruler of Ndihu autonomous community in Obowo LGA, who was to be buried on Saturday.
The NDDC officer reportedly left the vigil and was pursued by his kidnappers as he made his way to his community, where he was kidnapped and taken away, leaving his car behind.
Additionally, it was learned that the suspects had made contact with the victim’s relatives and offered N10 million in exchange for their release.
Patrick Uwalaka, the community’s traditional leader, who had earlier deemed the development regrettable, reportedly rejoiced over the eventual release, according to InsightnaijaTV.
Whether a ransom was paid to secure the release of the NDDC officer, however, is unknown.
As of the time this story was filed, Micheal Abattam, the spokesman for the Imo State Police Command, had yet to answer to a question about the kidnapping and was still required to do so.
