Lawman Duruji was released after rigorous financial negotiations, which the kidnappers initially pegged at N15 million.
A former Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Lawman Duruji, has regained his freedom after five days in the den of suspected kidnappers.
TheNiche had reported that a day after gunmen kidnapped the former Speaker, Lawman Duruji, the wife of Frank Onwumere, an erstwhile Chairman of Okigwe Local Government Area of the state, was also abducted.
While Onwumere’s wife was said to have been kidnapped on Sunday, a source said Duruji was abducted on Saturday while returning from a function.
Lawman Duruji has now been released by his abductors, according to his kinsman, Kingsley Chukwu, who confirmed the development to a Punch Newspaper correspondent on Thursday.
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The Newspaper says it gathered that the ex-lawmaker, who is said to be running for the Ehime Mbano/ Ihitte Uboma/ Obowo Federal Constituency seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was released after rigorous financial negotiations. The newspaper said could not immediately ascertain how much was paid for his freedom, but it was gathered that his captors made an initial demand of N15m.
Chukwu said: “Lawman Duruji, who was abducted a few days ago in his hometown, has regained his freedom to the glory of God. Let this affliction pass us by. Let our God arise and let the enemies scatter. My youthful and mobile leader has been freed, thanks be to God.”
Imo has become a hotbed for abductions and murder usually attributed to unknown gunmen.
On Tuesday, January 11, passengers in a commercial bus heading to Lagos from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, were kidnapped by the unknown gunmen who intercepted the bus in Isiala Mbano, Imo State.
The passengers were travelling in a bus marked Government Akwa Ibom State when the gunmen struck, took them away leaving behind the vehicle and luggage.