Tag: freed

A French engineer taken hostage in Nigeria in December 2012, Francis Collomp, has been freed, President Francois Hollande said yesterday.

In a statement, Hollande expressed thanks to Nigerian authorities for helping to secure the release of 63-year old Collomp, but provided no other details of how he was freed.

“The president greets with joy the release of our compatriot Francis Collomp,” Hollande said.

“France had never ceased to make every effort to achieve this happy outcome. The president expresses all of his gratitude to Nigerian authorities, with whom France worked in close cooperation, for their decisive action,” Hollande said.

“This long-awaited news does not make us forget our seven compatriots who are still being held in Syria, in Mali and in Nigeria. France will continue to work tirelessly for their release.”

The statement said Hollande had asked Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius to make his way immediately to Nigeria to receive Collomp.

Collomp was kidnapped by around 30 armed men who attacked the residence of French firm Vergnet, the company for which he is working, in Rimi, Katsina state on the border with Niger.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Collon, an engineer, was working with the firm handling the Katsina Wind Mill Power project, when he was abducted at his residence.

Two people, a security guard and his friend, were shot dead during his abduction, while the Divisional Police Office in Rimi was set ablaze by the kidnappers.

Kaduna State Commissioner of Police Mr Olufemi Adenaike told reporters that the 63-year old French man was released by his abductors in Zaria on Saturday, after his initial incarceration in Katsina and Kano.

According to him, the kidnappers did not demand any ransom since the man was kidnapped about a year ago.

He said Collon was dumped by the roadside at Dan Magaji in Zaria, from where he took a commercial motorcycle to the Dan Magaji police station.

Collon, accompanied by French Embassy officials, did not comment on the incident.

The commissioner said the man would be departing Nigeria for France immediately to reunite with his family.

Kidnapped Nollywood actress and Senior Special Assistant to Imo State Governor on Public Affairs, Miss Nkiru Sylvanus (aka Ble-Ble), was released yesterday.

She was abducted on Sunday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, with former Mr Nigeria, Kenneth Okolie, during the shooting of a movie.

It was not clear yesterday night if ransom was paid.

The kidnappers reportedly blindfolded Nkiru and Okolie and dropped them at a spot in Owerri.

Nkiru and Okolie were said to have made calls to their relatives from where they were dumped.

Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN) President Ibinabo Fiberesima called Zik Zulu, President of the Association of Movie Producers(AMP) during a Nollywood Christmas Carol at the Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Frontline Nollywood stars were at the event whaen Zulu received Ms Fiberesima’s call.

The organisers of the event announced the release of the actress and Okolie.

This elicited excitement among the people.

When our correspondent called Ms Fiberesima yesterday, she sounded tired.

But she said: “I’m happy they have been released. I can now rest. I’m sorry I’m very tired and I cannot say more for now.”

Several Nollywood practitioners had called for her unconditional release.

They included Ms Fiberesima, veteran actor Keppy Ekpeyong as well as groups of actors.

A group of Nollywood actors has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar on the abduction of their colleagues, Miss Nkiru Sylvanus and Kenneth Okolie.

The petition reads: “The two actors were in Owerri, Imo State, shooting a movie, when they were abducted by masked gunmen. Some hours later, the mindless abductors contacted family and friends of Ms. Sylvanus. They demanded N100million ransom. Till now, we cannot fathom the rationale behind their kidnap and their abductors have advanced none.”