Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ishola Balogun- Fulani and Secretary of the party, Bode Adekanye who were kidnapped by unknown gunmen have been released unhurt.

According to a statement issued by the Kwara APC Publicity Secretary, Sulyman Buhari yesterday, the APC chietains were saved by the men of the Kogi State Police Command and other security agencies at 6.30pm on Saturday.

The men were also freed without the payment of any ransom even though the kidnappers had earlier requested for N50 million.

The free men are to arrive Ilorin today after spending the night in Lokoja after their rescue.

According to Buhari, the state APC commended the security agencies for securing what he called the “unconditional release” of its leaders as quickly as possible.

Balogun-Fulani and Adekanye were kidnapped by unknown gunmen at Okene on Friday as they were returning from Abuja to Ilorin and N50 million was demanded for their release.

A source had told Punch that friends and associates of the kidnapped politicians pleaded with the abductors to accept N10m but the kidnappers rejected the offer.

The source revealed that a team had been sent to negotiate their release.

“Our people were on their way to Okene-Lokoja axis for a possible location of the abductors’ hideout with a view to paying the ransom and securing the release of our chairman and secretary,” he said.