Kidnapped German archaeologist, Prof. Peter Breunji, and his associate, Johannes Buringer, who were whisked away by gunmen at Jenjela village, in the Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, at the weekend regained their freedom.
Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan to governor Nasir el-Rufai who confirmed the release, commended security operatives for the release of the Germans.
He said in a statement on Sunday, “The abducted German archaeologist, Prof. Peter Breunij, and his research assistant, Johannes Buringer, have been freed.
“Governor Nasir el-Rufai has commended security agencies for their efforts in securing the release of the Germans.”
The professor is the leader of a four-man team from the University of Frankfurt, Germany, working in Nigeria in collaboration with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments and other institutions on the relics of Nok culture in Nigeria.
Breunij, 65, and his aide, were abducted on Wednesday in Jenjela community.
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Although the statement was silent on whether a ransom was paid before the Germans were released or not, the abductors on Wednesday had demanded N60m in ransom.
Police sources on Sunday hinted that a manhunt for the abductors had been intensified.
The source said, “It is true that the two men were released by their abductors on Saturday. However, the police have intensified a manhunt for the kidnappers and I can tell you that we will get them soon”.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood disclosed last week that the IGP, Ibrahim Idris, had deployed Police Special Forces made up of the Intelligence Response Team, the Technical Intelligence Unit as well as the Anti-Kidnapping unit to rescue the men.
Other units involved in the rescue operation included the Counter -Terrorism Unit, the Police Mobile Force, and the Special Investigation Team on kidnapping and terrorism cases, under the command of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge Force Criminal Investigations Department, DIG Hyacinth Dagala.
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