BEVERLY HILLS, July 5, (THEWILL) – The Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria from Sierra Leone, Alfred Nelson, who was kidnapped on Friday has been released.
Police Spokesman, Don Awunah, confirmed the release saying that the diplomat was released in good condition around 4pm on Tuesday and had been reunited with his family.
He added that there was intense police activities on both land and air patrol within the area where he was captured but did not comment on whether any ransom was paid as the kidnappers had earlier demanded $40 million in exchange of his release.
Nelson, a retired Sierra Leonean Army Officer and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) for Sierra Leone from 2008 to 2010 was abducted on his way to Kaduna from Abuja to attend the passing out ceremony of military officers at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji, outside Kaduna.
Nelson holds degrees from Junior and Senior Command and Staff Colleges in Ghana, and is a Fellow of the Nigeria War College, with degrees in Management and Public Administration at the University of Ghana, Legon, and a Master of Science at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.
His honours and awards include an ECOMOG Medal as well as long service, efficiency and gallantry medals. He also earned a National Award as Grand Officer of the Order of Rokel.
Story by David Oputah
