A journalist with the Nation Newspaper, Abdulgafar Alabelewe, who was kidnapped with his wife and children in Kaduna State has regained his freedom.

SaharaReporters reports on Saturday that Alabelewe, who is chairman of the correspondents’ chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna, was released alongside Abdulraheem Aodu, a colleague with Blueprint Newspapers Limited.

It is not yet clear if ransom was paid to secure their release, but it was gathered that the duo were rescued from the forests.

SaharaReporters had on July 7 reported that Alabelewe and AbdulRaheem Aodu were abducted along with their wives and children at about 10:30pm last Saturday.

The armed men had reportedly stormed Danhonu community in Millennium city of Chikun local government area of Kaduna and headed for the houses of the reporters.

A family member of one of the victims, Taofeeq Olayemi, who confirmed the incident had said the bandits stormed the community and started shooting indiscriminately before the abduction.

“Initially, they picked Alhaji Abdulgafar, his wife and three of his children and a girl staying with them before asking the girl to return back with one of the children, leaving with Abdulgafar, his wife and two children,” the source was quoted as saying.

“They shattered their doors, windows and removed their burglary after scaling the fence.”

The source had said Alhaji Aodu and his wife were kidnapped, but the bandits left behind their sick daughter.

“They came around 10:30 pm on Saturday and started shooting sporadically. They first burst Aodu’s door open and picked him and his wife and left their sick daughter behind.

“Then, they entered Abdulgafar’s house through the fence and jumped into his house. They went straight into his bedroom and picked him, his wife and two of their kids. They left immediately, after which the vigilantes arrived and started shooting into the air,” the source said.