About 17 persons, who were kidnapped seven days ago by yet-to-be-identified gunmen in the Gwargwada-Sabo community in the Gadabuke Development Area of Nasarawa State, have been set free amidst pressure from the police.

The victims were said to have been kidnapped last Friday while observing their Isha’i prayers in a mosque in the Toto Local Government Area of the state.

According to one of the victims, their families paid N2.2m as ransom to secure their release, in addition to food items like grains and oil, among others.

He said the victims from rich homes were asked to pay huge amount of money while those without money were asked to give grains.

He added that the kidnappers had informants, who gave out information on the social status of their victims to them.a

The victims are a library official attached to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, three ladies and 13 male adults.

Confirming the release of the victims in Lafia on Tuesday, the Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Ramhan Nansel, said he was not sure if ransom was paid before they were released.