Kidnapped former sports minister, Damishi Sango, others regain freedom

Damishi Sango

A former Minister of Sports and the Plateau State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Damishi Sango, and others kidnapped with him have been set free.

Sango and four others, including his son, were kidnapped on Wednesday in Jere, in Kaduna State, while on their way to Abuja for the PDP national convention.

The kidnappers had demanded N100m ransom which they later reduced to N50m.

Publicity Secretary of PDP in Plateau State, John Akans, confirmed the release of the five victims on Sunday.

He said, “The Plateau State Chairman of the PDP, Damishi Sango, and others have been released.

“They regained their freedom this (Sunday) evening; they are all at home in Abuja.

“No ransom was paid; they were unconditionally released because Plateau State PDP doesn’t have money to pay ransom.”

Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had earlier dispatched three specialised squads to rescue Sango and others.

Spokesperson for the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Muktar Aliyu, had confirmed that the IG ordered a crackdown on the kidnappers.

He had said, “The IGP Intelligence Response Team, the Special Tactical Squad and the Anti-Kidnapping Squad; they have all been dispatched and we are making efforts to ensure that we rescue the abductees and arrest the abductors.”