Martha Nestor Binabo, wife of a former acting governor of Bayelsa State, was freed by her kidnappers on Sunday after her husband paid a ransom of N8.2 million, SaharaReporters has learned.
A family source disclosed to our correspondent that the abducted woman was handed over to a negotiator in the Buguma area of Rivers State in the early hours of Sunday.
According to the source, the woman was freed after her family complied with the kidnappers' warning not to involve the police in negotiations. The source disclosed that, after the abductors collected their multi-million naira ransom, they freed Mrs. Binabo, giving her a transport fare of N18,000 and a big fish. They reportedly told their released victim to use the fish to prepare pepper soup for her husband.
Our correspondent learned that the kidnappers received N8.2 million before agreeing to release the woman.
The spokesman of the Bayelsa State police command, Astimin Butswat, confirmed the release of Nrs. Binabo. He said the police were yet to receive full details on her release.
In June, the police confirmed the kidnap of the victim. She was abducted from the premises of her company in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, by gunmen dressed in military uniforms.
The police disclosed that five unknown gunmen dressed in military camouflage uniforms stormed the premises of Seleyibo Multi-Global Coy Limited at Agbura in Yenagoa local government area. on Monday.
"They called the director of the company, one Madam Martha Nestor Binabor, aged 48, outside the company's gate for a talk.
"Consequently, they forced her into an ash-colored Toyota Camry car registration number unknown, chasis No. JTDBE32K620105302, and drove to Otuokpoti Sand Dump in Ogbia LGA," the police said.
The police added that Mrs. Binsbo's abductors later set the Toyota Camry ablaze and took their victim into a waiting speedboat and sped off to an unknown destination."