Kidnappers get N65m, free Briton after two weeks

A British expatriate, said to be in the employ of Conoil Nigeria Plc, has been freed by his captors, two weeks after, following the payment of N65m ransom.

The Briton, identified simply as Mark, was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen and held hostage in the creeks in Bayelsa State.

The hostage regained his freedom during the week after his abductors received the N65m ransom.

The victim spent over two weeks in the kidnappers' den before the ransom money pacified his captors to grant him freedom.

A source said that some hired negotiators engaged the kidnappers for prolonged negotiation on ransom before a deal was struck.

He said the kidnappers initially demanded N500m to set Mark free.

He said, 'The negotiators started with N15m but the kidnappers who apparently knew the hostage value of their victim rejected the offer which they considered too minute.

'Serious negotiation commenced between the hired negotiators and the kidnappers until they agreed on N65m. The money was paid on Thursday and the Briton was released.

Operatives of the DSS who were said to have monitored the negotiation process, picked up Mark at Ogbeinbiri in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa, where the kidnappers abandoned him. Punch