20100718
allafrica

Police have rescued the four journalists and their driver who were abducted last week. Uncomfirmed reports say the journalists are on their way to Umuahia, the Abia state capital.

The journalists are Chairman, Lagos State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Wahab Oba; Assistant Secretary, Lagos State Council of the NUJ, Mr. Sylva Okereke; Secretary, NUJ Zone G, Mr. Adolphus Okonkwo; Member NUJ, Mr. Shola Oyeyipo with the driver of their vehicle, Azeez Yekini.

Wahab Oba,left with his colleagues

It was reported yesterday, that the police have stepped up efforts to free the kidnapped journalists, police and union officials told the AFP.

"We have deployed men from the anti-terrorist and robbery units to comb everywhere in Abia State with a view to securing the release of the journalists," a police spokesman said.

Vanguard

Members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) after their release: From left, Sliver Okereke, Assistant Secretary, Lagos NUJ, Okonkwo Adolphus, NUJ Zone G, Secretary, an unnamed police officer, Wahab Alabi Obo, Chairman of the NUJ Lagos Council, and Sola Oyeyipo.

He said police were hopeful the four men who were seized on Sunday while returning from a conference in nearby Akwa Ibom State would be freed soon.

Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretary Usman Leman told AFP that journalists were taking part in the search.

"We have volunteers from our colleagues who are taking part in the search by the police. Every forest and bush is being combed," he said.

Leman said the kidnappers were insisting on a ransom of 30 million naira (200,000 dollars, 155,000 euros) before the journalists could be freed.

The gunmen had earlier demanded 250 million naira.

More updates later.