Mrs. Roselyn Okokingho, breastfeeding mother of nine weeks old baby kidnapped by gunmen in Twon Brass, Brass local Government Area of Bayelsa, regained her freedom on Tuesday, according to family sources.

Mr. Pius Okokingho, husband to the kidnap victim, said on Wednesday that his wife had spent two weeks in the kidnappers’ den and described the experience as traumatic.

He said that his wife’s abductors dropped her off at a lonely place along the Brass River waterways from where she was rescued by sympathisers.

Mr. Okokingho said that the joy of the new baby who got reunited with the lactating mother whose abduction denied the baby of breast milk knew no bounds when his wife returned home.

According to him, the kidnap incident had compelled the family to resort to infant formula rather than the exclusive breastfeeding that the baby was used to.

Although he declined to disclose if ransom was paid, he said that the kidnappers had established telephone contact with him and demanded for N10 million ransom, adding that his offer of N100,000 was turned down.

Mr. Okokingho said: “I can confirm that my wife is back and I thank God that she is in good health; I am also grateful to sympathuisers who came to her rescue and all those who stood by me during the traumatic two weeks.

“I also applaud the media for the selfless advocacy for the freedom of my wife; I am sure they were under intense pressure as the kidnappers said that the incident was enjoying media spotlight, an indication that I had money but I told them it was public service.

“The media spotlight was not my making; I did not solicit media coverage in any way. I was too confused to think straight, it was just an act of God that the sympathy of the new baby got people in the media to take up the issue as their social obligation.”

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