Sunday Adeniran, a pastor of the Redeem Christian Church of God who was abducted by unidentified gunmen, has regained freedom.
Adeniran was kidnapped on Saturday alongside two other persons in Calabar, Cross River State.
The pastor and the others were released at about 2 am on Monday morning near Scanobo filling station, Ikot Ekpo 8 miles on the outskirt of Calabar, Vanguard reports.
The source further said the pressure from the Anti-Kidnapping and Cultism Squad led by SP A. Awodi made the miscreant to hurriedly collect what they could after making an initial demand of N7 million.
He said: “They knew that the Dragon Squad was closing in on them, they had to hurriedly collect about 200,000 naira and let their victims go.
“Initially they demanded N7 million for their release but had to just collect what they could as soon as possible and dropped them off at Scanobo area in Ikot Ekpo 8 Miles at about 2am.”
It was gathered that the SP Awodi and his men from AKCS were already on the trail of the gunmen as at midnight but immediately they got wind of the manhunt which was earlier reported, they collected the available cash and set the victims free.
In a related development, another victim was also rescued without paying any ransom to his abductors at the weekend in Calabar.
The State Police Command, through the anti-kidnapping and Cultism Squad (Dragon) rescued a 24-year-old businessman, Justine Esedeke from his abductors at another location at 8 miles.
This was part of the covert operation recently launched by the Commissioner of Police, Aminu Alhassan, through the Commander of AKCS, SP Awodi and his men to nip in the bud the rising menace of kidnapping along 8-mile axis.
According to investigations, the victim, 24-year-old Justine was abandoned by his captors in the hills around Nasarawa, Bacoco in 8 Miles when the men of the AKCS squad were combing the forest after a distress call was made by the victim’s family to them.
A security source told the newspaper, “After combing the forest in search of the victim based on credible intelligence, the victim was abandoned by his abductors as they saw the men of AKCS and took to their heels.”
