Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of TheNiche Newspapers, Ikechukwu Amaechi, says his mother who was kidnapped on March 3 has been freed.
Madam Appolonia, a retired teacher, was whisked away from her home at Ahiazu in Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State around 8:30 pm.
The kidnappers demanded N20 million for her release.
In a statement on Sunday, Mr Amaechi said his mother’s freedom was bought. He did not disclose how much was paid to the kidnappers.
“The goodwill was unprecedented. The prayers were overwhelming and reached God. And God has done it for us. My mother, Appolonia Amaechi, who was kidnapped on Tuesday night has regained her freedom,” he said.
“Yes, we bought her freedom. That has become the new normal in Nigeria.”
He thanked all for their “calls, prayers, solidarity and the kind gesture” of availing him of their “highly prized contacts”, adding “this wouldn’t have been easy. You made it possible for my mother to come out of captivity alive.”
Madam Appolonia, 79, a diabetic patient, was held in captivity without her drugs.
