A lecturer at the Imo State University, Owerri, Emma Ogueri, who was kidnapped by gunmen on Friday night, has regained his freedom.

Ogueri, a lecturer at the Faculty of Social Sciences was kidnapped at a Pharmacy, opposite All Seasons Hotel, new Owerri.

Our correspondent, however, gathered that the academic who hails from the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state was released on Monday.

He was released after his family and friends allegedly paid an undisclosed sum as ransom, a source told our correspondent.

The source said that the police had trailed the kidnappers to the Awara-Omoku forest, following an intelligence.

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The kidnappers had relocated with the lecturer when they sensed the presence of policemen in the creek, the source said.

The presence of the policemen was said to had fast-tracked the release of the lecturer as the kidnappers quickly concluded negotiation with the family and friends of Ogueri.

The source said, “The abductors were demanding for N3m ransom but the presence of policemen in the creek which forced the kidnappers to relocate with the lecturer to another hideout made them to quickly round off the negotiation.”

When contacted, the Police Spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed the release of the lecturer.