Dr Abu Babatunde, a medical doctor abducted alongside his brother in Auchi, Edo State, on Jan. 1, has regained his freedom after spending two weeks in captivity.
Babatunde, a house officer at Edo University Teaching Hospital, Iyamho, was kidnapped alongside his younger brother, Abu Tahir, a newly graduated medical doctor from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.
The two brothers were abducted at the gate of their residence in Igbira Camp, Auchi, shortly after returning from work.
The abductors initially demanded a ransom of N200 million for the duo. However, the incident took a tragic turn on Jan. 6 when Tahir was reportedly killed by the kidnappers.
His body was later discovered by security operatives near a riverside.
Despite the killing, the kidnappers continued to hold Babatunde, subsequently reducing the ransom demand to N100 million and later to about N40 million following negotiations with the family.
News of Babatunde’s release broke on Wednesday night through a viral video circulated on social media.
The video suggested that the doctor was rescued around 8 p.m. by local hunters and vigilante groups during a coordinated operation in a forest.
In the footage, the vigilantes were seen assisting the visibly weak doctor into a waiting vehicle.
A narrator in the video claimed that one of the abductors was neutralized during the rescue operation.
The narrator also said Babatunde sustained a gunshot injury to his leg, leaving him unable to walk unaided after being carried over a long distance from deep within the forest.
Confirming the development, Dr Eustace Oseghale, Chairman of the Edo State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said the association was aware of the doctor’s release.
Oseghale said the state executive council of the NMA was in a meeting and would issue an official statement shortly.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Edo State, ASP Eno Ikoedem, also confirmed the release of the medical practitioner to reporters on Thursday.
Ikoedem said Babatunde had since been reunited with his family.
