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 ) (The Associated Press)

prev next

2 kidnapped Germans are freed (The Associated Press)

Security officers patrol the area near to the site where gunmen abducted German archaeologists professor Peter Breunig and his associate Johannes Behringer 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 ) (The Associated Press)

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

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

A police statement said the kidnappers released the Germans on Saturday night.

A senior police officer involved in the search said Tuesday that the kidnappers made direct contact with the German Embassy. A worker at Jenjela said the kidnappers were demanding 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 refused comment.