No ransom was paid for the release of Nigeria's first Petroleum Minister, Shettima Ali Monguno, who was abducted on Friday, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has said.
The governor said Mr. Monguno, who has since been re-united with his family, could not have paid any money to his abductors since he spent all his money on philanthropy.
"Obviously Monguno was a philanthropist, who had spent all he had in the cause of humanity. So the issue of money was out of it because the family had no money to pay," the governor said.
Mr. Shettima said that the abductors of Mr. Monguno made contact with the family after several appeals from Nigerians for his release.
He added that the abductors were touched by the numerous appeals and they decided to release him unconditionally.
The governor said, "They contacted his family after several appeals from Nigerians for his release. But his family also made an appeal to the abductors to release him. They sent words that he should be picked in the morning, so we sent his personal aides with a vehicle to get him home."
The governor told newsmen in Maiduguri that Mr. Monguno was released by his abductors on Monday morning in Kirenowa, in Marte Local Government Area of the state.
Gunmen had abducted Mr. Monguno after Friday prayers at his mosque in Mafoni, Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Mr. Monguno was also a one time Minister of Internal Affairs, as well as Minister of Defence in charge of the Nigeria Air Force.
