A former Minister of Sports and the Plateau State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Damishi Sango, and others kidnapped with him have regained freedom.

One of the PDP elders in Plateau State, Chief Emmanuel Mangni, was also kidnapped in the attack which came less than 48 hours to the PDP national convention.

They regained freedom on Sunday.

The kidnappers had demanded N100m ransom which they later reduced to N50m.

While Mangni was said to be the coordinator of Secondus’ chairmanship bid, other victims of the kidnappers are Sango’s son, his driver and his police orderly.

They were kidnapped on Wednesday in Jere, in Kaduna State, while on their way to Abuja.

Our correspondent had also reported that the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, dispatched three specialised squads to rescue Sango and others.

The spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, Muktar Aliyu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, had confirmed that the IG ordered a crackdown on the kidnappers.

He had said, “The IGP Intelligence Response Team, the Special Tactical Squad and the Anti-Kidnapping Squad; they have all been dispatched and we are making efforts to ensure that we rescue the abductees and arrest the abductors.”

The Publicity Secretary of PDP in Plateau State, John Akans, confirmed the release of the five victims on Sunday.

He said, “The Plateau State Chairman of the PDP, Damishi Sango, and others have been released.

“They regained their freedom this (Sunday) evening; they are all at home in Abuja.

“No ransom was paid; they were unconditionally released because Plateau State PDP doesn’t have money to pay ransom.”