Warri – The Delta State Police Command has confirmed the release of Osahon Julius , former chairman of Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State Council, who was abducted
Osahon Julius, a former freelancer with the Nigerian Observer, was abducted on Monday, March 28, 2022.
He was released night of Friday, April 1, 2022, as contained on the Delta State Council (NUJ) WhatsApp platform by a member of the National Executive Council of the NUJ, Chief Festus Ahon.
The message read thus: “Our kidnapped colleague, Mr Osahon, working in Bayelsa State, has been released in Ughelli, Delta State.
“He is in stable condition. From Edo Council chairman.”
Osahon and about 17 other passengers were traveling in a commercial bus owned by Sunny Eru Motors when they were kidnapped by gunmen along the Patani axis of the East-West road.
The driver of the vehicle was shot dead while the passengers including the journalist were taken hostage.
The Delta Police Public Relations Officer PPRO DSP Bright Edafe, while confirming the release of the abducted victims, however said ,
“They were four persons remaining, others have released before then.Those released yesterday night were two females and two males.”
Asked how much ransom was paid the kidnappers, the Delta Police image maker,said he was not aware if any ransom was paid..
Osahon’s abductors had, after the abduction, demanded N5 million from the family of the journalist, but it couldn’t be ascertained the amount the gunmen eventually collected before letting him off the hook on Friday night.
