Ex-minister, husband released after 48 hours in captivity

Lawrencia Mallam, a former minister of environment, and Pius Mallam, her husband, have regained freedom after being abducted by gunmen on Monday.

A source said the couple, who were kidnapped along the Jere-Gbwari Road in Kaduna, were released on Wednesday evening.

Their captors demanded a ransom of N10 million, but it is unclear whether any ransom was eventually paid.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Mallam minister of environment in 2014, and she was succeeded in 2015 by Amina Mohammed.