Gunmen free Guardian correspondent after five days in captivity

Gunmen have released the abducted Correspondent of The Guardian Newspaper and former chairman of Federated Correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa State Council, Mr. Julius Olusegun Osahon.

Osahon was abducted by suspected herders along Patani area of the East-West Road on Monday, March 29, 2022 alongside others as they travelled with Sunny Eru Motors to Delta State

The armed men had shot dead the driver of the vehicle and took away the 18 passengers including Osahon.

Osahon was said to have been released on Friday night, although it was not clear how the journalist regained his freedom.

A source said ‘Our kidnapped colleague, Mr Osahon working in Bayelsa state has been released in Ughelli, Delta State. He is in stable condition. From Edo council chairman’.

The gunmen had earlier demanded N5 million ransom for the release of the journalist but later asked for N50 million naira.

The ransom was increased because of the media reports on his abduction.

A close source later said that the kidnappers later reduced the ransom to N3 million as the negotiation for his release continued.

A colleague quoted the wife as having said that the journalist is in a stable condition.

However, it is not clear if any ransom was paid for his release.