The abducted German archaeologist, Professor Peter Breunij, and his research assistant, Johannes Buringer, have been freed after spending four days in captivity.
Sources said that their abductors released them in Kateri village, along the Kaduna-Abuja road, late Saturday, and they were later taken to the German embassy in Abuja.
Their abductors had demanded a N60 million ransom, but the police have not revealed whether or not any amount was paid.
The victims had come to Nigeria from the University of Frankfurt, Germany, over a project with the National Commission for Museum and Monuments and other institutions on the relics of Nok culture in Nigeria.
A witness, who was part of the team working with Germans, had narrated how they were kidnapped.
He said two people who tried to secure their release were shot dead.
“One of us who is a hunter suggested that we go after them, but only one of us agreed and the two of them crossed the road, chasing the gunmen,” he had said.
“When the kidnappers realised that the two men were following them, they turned and opened fire, killing the hunter and the other man.”
Acting-President Yemi Osinbajo summoned Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police (IGP), over the incident.
The police deployed special forces, comprising the intelligence response team ( IRT), the technical intelligence unit (TIU) and the anti-kidnapping unit in a mission to rescue the victims.
A Kaduna State Government statement said that Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has commended the security agencies for their efforts in securing the release of the Germans.
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