Kidnapped Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha, on Monday night regained his freedom, after 15 days in captivity.
It was learnt that he was dumped at Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state at about 7pm.
Sources told National Mirror that the state government paid unspecified ransom to the abductors to facilitate Eghagha’s release.
The commissioner was abducted at Abavo on Effurun/ Asaba Highway on September 30, 2012 by some gunmen, who also killed his police orderly.
The gunmen later demanded N100 million ransom as a condition to release him.
But it was not clear at press time yesterday how much the government coughed out to secure Eghagha’s release Eghagha could not be reached to narrate his ordeal in captivity at the time of filling this report yesterday.
Our correspondent, who visited his residence in Asaba, was told that the commissioner was resting.
A couple of relations, friends and associates were sighted at the area waiting to see him.
The Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Mr. Charles Muka, confirmed Eghagha’s release.
Muka said the commissioner was freed at about 7pm on Monday. Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government yesterday confirmed the kidnap of its Commissioner for Power, Mr. Augustine Wokocha.
Wokocha was reported kidnapped by gunmen on October 13, 2012.
The state Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said yesterday that the information available at the time the incident occurred indicated that the commissioner was kidnapped on his way to assess some areas affected by flood.
She said: “It is believed that he was on his way to monitor relief materials and the situation in one of the camps where flood victims were accommodated before the incident happened.
“Although details are sketchy, the government wishes to confirm that security agencies are on top of the situation and have the full cooperation of the government to ensure that the commissioner is rescued and the perpetrators brought to book.”
Mrs. Semenitari said Governor Chibuike Amaechi had directed the security agencies to ensure Wokocha’s release without delay. The security agencies are working on a number of leads and a combined search mission is in full swing to unravel the untoward development.
“It is pertinent to say that the state has enjoyed relative peace until now.
