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Toyin Nwosu, wife of Deputy Managing Director of The SUN Newspaper, Mr Steve Nwosu, was released about 2am on Thursday after 72 hours in the hands of armed robbers who abducted after raiding their home in Lagos.
The kidnappers dropped her off at the First Avenue/Amuwo Odofin Link Bridge and gave her a phone to call her husband.
It was gathered that the kidnappers, who had demanded N100 million ransom, blindfolded her before taking her to the bridge, which is less than 15 minutes drive to the Nwosus’ Ago Palace Way, Okota home on the outskirts of Lagos.
After her call, they collected the phone from her and left in their speed boat.
She was picked up at First gate, Festac Town by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Awoseni , alongside members of her family.
She could not talk about her ordeal as she was apparently too traumatised at the time.
Her elated husband, Steve, however expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to her release, explaining that she would be taken to the hospital for doctors to access her state.
He explained that no ransom was paid for her release and declared that he had forgiven those who abducted his wife.
He said:“If you have got used to having a wife when you get married and you discover that you cannot do any other thing without your wife, then you can imagine what not having her for almost three days will be like.
“We thank those who contributed to getting her freed. I thank the government starting from the centre, the Inspector- General of Police who was personally on the matter, The Presidency through Mr. Femi Adesina, and the Lagos State governor, who called me.
“Our gratitude also goes to the state Commissioner of Police, the Police , the DSS,the Sesan Family, my former Managing Director, Mr. Orji Uzor Kalu, who was always on the case and
“Mr Eric Osagie, who is not only a boss but a brother. The role he played showed that he is more than a brother. I also thank all kinds of prayer warriors, my readers and friends.
“I have about four hundred prayer text messages on my phone from family and friends, including old people who you don’t even expect like Segun Osogba. Femi Akintola, the list is endless. There are other people including the Bayelsa state governor and the Governor Fayose of Ekiti state who called.
“I’m happy because it is when things like this happen that you know whether you are well loved or not. I am happy that my wife is back. She is not hurt. She is not ill. But I said she should get a rest because of the trauma, in order to get over it. She should have been the one talking to you but we are grateful to Nigerians.”
But Toyin later that day, relived her experience with the kidnappers.
She told The Nation that she was well treated, adding that the kidnappers served her food, but she could not eat.