Mr. Tartenger Terdue James, who was abducted just days to his traditional marriage, has regained his freedom after his family paid a ransom to his captors in Benue State.
James was kidnapped last Tuesday while travelling to Cross River State to purchase palm oil for his traditional wedding scheduled for Saturday, December 13, 2025.
What was expected to be a routine pre-wedding trip reportedly turned into days of anxiety for his family, marked by fear, sleepless nights and fervent prayers.
Relief came in the early hours of Tuesday when James reunited with his family at about 4:00 a.m.
He was said to have told relatives that his abductors released him around 2:00 a.m.
Family sources said the kidnappers initially demanded N3 million but later freed him after receiving about N1.5 million.
“We tried our best and sent part of the money they asked for. It was not complete, but they released him,” a family member said.
James was reportedly dropped at Kone, Tse-Ken, in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State, bringing to an end a week-long ordeal.
Efforts to get official confirmation proved unsuccessful, as the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, DSP Udeme Edet, could not be reached as of the time of filing this report, with calls to her mobile phone unanswered.