Nigeria: Abducted German archaeologists released

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Two German archaeologists recently abducted in Nigeria's northwestern Kaduna state have regained their freedom on Sunday, according to a local police spokesman.

“I can confirm that the two Germans have been released today,” Kaduna police spokesman Aliyu Usman confirmed to Anadolu Agency late Sunday.

He did not say whether any ransom was paid to secure the release of Prof Peter Breunj and his partner Johannes Buringer who were abducted Wednesday by some gunmen. Two female Nigerians were killed at the scene of the kidnapping, police said.

“We are still on the trail of the abductors,” Usman added, meaning no arrest has been made and raising the possibility that kidnappers themselves had freed their captives possibly after some ransom had been paid.

Local media reported last Thursday that the abductors had demanded for $200,000 to free the archaeologists. Police did not confirm the development.

Breunj and Buringer are part of a four-man team from the University of Frankfurt, Germany, who are partnering with the Nigerian authorities to dig up more facts about the relics of Nok culture in Nigeria.

High-profile abduction is common in parts of Nigeria, including Kaduna.

Government's bid to route all Abuja-bound air travel through Kaduna from March -- on account of reconstruction works on the Abuja airport runway -- has drawn criticism partly because of security concerns. Major airline operators have said they would not be flying to the Kaduna airport.