The wife and son of Nasiru Yakubu, a Nigerian journalist reporting for Voice of America (VOA) Hausa Service, were freed by their abductors on Friday night after the payment of ransom, the relieved journalist has disclosed.

Yakubu had posted on his Facebook wall on Wednesday morning that kidnappers stormed his house at Birnin Yero, a small community in Kaduna State, at about 1:30 a.m. and took away his wife and son.

Over 200 volunteers had stormed neighbouring bushes of Birnin Yero, Igabi Local Government Area, in a frantic effort to search for the victims after the news of the kidnap broke.

“After a painstaking negotiation, they (kidnappers) finally agreed to accept N2 million ransom as against the N12 million they initially demanded for,” a close family source said.

Mr. Yakubu also confirmed the release, saying: “Yes, the kidnappers just contacted us that they have released my wife and my three-year-old baby around Sabon Birni where they dropped them.

“We just picked them from the location and heading back home now.

“It has not been easy. But, we thank almighty Allah, for their release in good health. We also thank all those who contributed with prayers, the search volunteers.

“We are also extending our profound condolence to the family, staff and management of FRSC over the death of the FRSC marshal, that was shot while trying to prevent the kidnappers.”

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