Days after unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers abducted wife and children of a Kaduna-based medical doctor, Philip Ataga in January, they have regained their freedom.
This was disclosed by a facebook user identified as Sunday Ogwu who claimed that he has been in touch with the family and announced the development on Thursday.
WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the children identified as Christabel and Jasmine were abducted alongside their mother, Bola from their residence at Juji near Sabon Tasha, Chikun local government area of Kaduna.
Recall that the kidnappers killed Bola, the mother of the children after the family could not pay the sum of N150m ransom that was demanded by the kidnappers and subsequently demanded N20 million for the release of the children.
According to Ogwu, the children were released after their father paid an unspecified amount in ransom to the kidnappers.
“To the glory of God, I have the honour and privilege to announce the release of Christerbel and Jasmine Ataga from captivity. Their release was secured after the payment of ransom to the bandit by Dr Philip Ataga,” Ogwu wrote on his Facebook page.
“I wish to un- behalf [on behalf] of the family thank everyone: the churches, prayer houses, family members, friends and well wishers, whose physical, emotional and psychological support were put at the disposition of the family in what has been two weeks of a very traumatic experience.”
Efforts to get in touch with the Police Public Relation Officer in the state, Yakubu Sabo to confirm and comment on the role of the police in securing the children’s release were futile.