Two journalists from Kaduna, Abdulgafar Alabelewe of The Nation and AbdulRaheem Aodu of Blueprint Newspaper, along with their wives and children, were freed by their captors after spending seven days in captivity. They were abducted by armed individuals in the Dahono Community of the Millennium City area on Saturday night.
Alabelewe serves as the chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Kaduna State.
Asma’u Yawo-Halilu, Chairperson of the Kaduna Council of the NUJ, confirmed their release, expressing gratitude to various security agencies and the Kaduna State Government for their support during the ordeal. She stated that arrangements are being made for the journalists and their families to reunite with the NUJ community in Kaduna.
“Dear Esteemed colleagues. To the glory of God Almighty, our colleagues, Abdulgafar Alabelewe, Abduraheem Aodu and their families have been released.
“The Council extends her profound gratitude to the office of the CP, Kaduna State Command, office of the NSA, the DG, DSS, the Inspector General of Police, Kaduna State government, the NUJ President and all well-meaning Nigerians that prayed along with us during the trying time.
“We will soon announce when they will join us in Kaduna so that we can visit, rejoice and glorify God with them,” she said.
Details about whether a ransom was paid remain unclear, but reports indicate that the journalists and their families were rescued near Abuja on Saturday. They are currently receiving debriefing and medical attention before reuniting with their families.
