Edo IPMAN Chairman Regains Freedom After 13 Days In Captivity

The Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria in Edo State, Abdulhamid Baba-Saliu, has regained freedom after spending 13 days in kidnappers’ captivity.

Recall that on Monday, February 7, 2022, Baba-Saliu was kidnapped in front of the gate of his country home in Jattu community in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

During the attack, two of his personal staff members were killed while three others were injured in the process.

Confirming Baba-Saliu’s release, a human rights lawyer, Abdul Mahmud, who is his brother-in-law, said the victim was released on Friday evening.

Mahmud said the victim was abandoned along a bush path in Iyamho community, Uzairue Clan, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state.

He said: “In the past few days, more precisely in the past thirty-six hours, our family has been inundated with calls, text messages, words of appreciation and gratitude to God, links to news websites and blogs, and screenshots of news publications which indicate that our patriarch, son, and brother-in-law had been released and he is in an undisclosed hospital in Benin, which turned out to be untrue.

“I am happy to inform that our patriarch and brother-in-law, Abdulhamid Baba-Saliu Egele, AKA Baba Petrol, HAS TONIGHT BEEN FREED BY HIS ABDUCTORS. He was dropped off at about 1945 Hours on a bush path in Iyamho community, Uzairue Clan, Etsako West LGA, Edo State.

“We thank Nigerians from all walks of life who joined their hands to ours in collective intercessory prayers, kept vigil with us, shared our fears, pains and anxieties during the eleven days of his horrible ordeal. We thank you all. Above everything else, we thank God.

“Finally, while we celebrate the release of our patriarch from the hands of his abductors, we request that you put his departed staff in your prayers.”