Kidnapped NPC officials regain freedom in Taraba

Two officials of the National Population Commission, Mr. Gaddafi Ali Shehu, and Isah Zaradeen, who were kidnapped last Friday in Dan-Anacha village in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba, have regained their freedom.

Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, Taraba State, Hon. Sanny Sale, disclosed this at a news conference in Jalingo on Wednesday.

Sale said the two officials were abducted about 3:45pm last Friday while on the Commission’s routine Enumeration Area Demarcation exercise in preparation for the national census next year.

The federal commissioner, who said the two members of staff were released on Tuesday after concessions were made, described the period of their captivity as depressing for the staff, family and the commission.

“The moment we were informed of their abduction through a phone call to this office by the kidnappers, we promptly contacted the relevant security agencies who mobilised to ensure their timely and safe release.

“We went into intense negotiation with the kidnappers for the safe release of our colleagues. I personally took charge of the discussions on Monday until they were released,” he said.

Sale thanked all security agencies in the state for their tremendous support in ensuring the release of the two workers of the Commission.

In a chat with journalists, one of the victims, Mr.Gadafi Shehu, said they were abducted on Friday while carrying out their work in the area.

According to him, two men riding on a motorcycle accosted them and ordered them at gunpoint to climb the bike and were whisked away to an unknown destination.

PUNCH

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