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Police officer: Not clear if ransom was paid for Germans

Security officers stand guard at the scene where a German archaeologists and his associate were kidnapped in Janjala Village, Nigeria. Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. Kidnappers are demanding a ransom of 60 million naira (about Dlrs 200,000 US) for the two captives abducted this week from Janjala village in northern Nigeria, the excavation site where the German archaeologists was working. Two villagers were shot and killed in the kidnapping, police confirmed Friday.(AP Photo/Lekan Oyekanmi )
Security officers stand guard at the scene where a German archaeologists and his associate were kidnapped in Janjala Village, Nigeria. Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. Kidnappers are demanding a ransom of 60 million naira (about Dlrs 200,000 US) for the two captives abducted this week from Janjala village in northern Nigeria, the excavation site where the German archaeologists was working. Two villagers were shot and killed in the kidnapping, police confirmed Friday.(AP Photo/Lekan Oyekanmi )

By Associated Press 2 min read

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – Nigerian police say it is not clear if a ransom was paid for the release of two German archaeologists freed by their kidnappers over the weekend.

Professor Peter Breunig and Johannes Behringer of Frankfurt’s Goethe University were seized at gunpoint Wednesday from Jenjela village in Kaduna state, less than 100 kilometers (60 miles) northeast of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. Two villagers who tried to help them were killed by the kidnappers.

The kidnappers released the Germans on Saturday night, said a police statement.

The kidnappers made direct contact with the German Embassy, a senior police officer involved in the search told The Associated Press on Tuesday. A worker at Jenjela said the kidnappers demanded a ransom of 60 million naira ($200,000). Both men spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to reporters.

The German Embassy in Abuja said only the Foreign Ministry in Berlin can comment. The ministry said Monday the two academics were at the German Embassy and doing well considering the circumstances.