We paid no ransom: M-Net
2010-03-09 20:15
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Nigeria
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Johannesburg - The Supersport sound engineer who was kidnapped in Nigeria may be reunited with his family on Wednesday, Multichoice said.
Caroline Creasy of Multichoice Africa said Nick Greyling, who was released to the Nigerian police after being held hostage in Nigeria for a week, will "hopefully" be back in South Africa on Wednesday.
"We are trying to get him home as soon as possible," she said on Tuesday.
Greyling was released on Monday night. He had been taken hostage with two of his Nigerian Supersport colleagues - cameraman Alexander Effiong and commentator Bowie Attamah - when their bus was attacked in the Imo province, near the Oweri airport.
Effiong escaped soon after the attack and Attamah was released on Friday, Creasy said.
Ransom
No details of the deal reached with his hostage takers were available.
"M-Net paid no ransom. We dealt directly with the Nigerian police," said Creasy.
The department of international relations and co-operation on Tuesday declined to give any information on whether ransom money was paid.
"We are unable to provide such details. I think that would be left to Mr Greyling, if he wants to release such details," said spokesperson Nomfanelo Kota.
The international news agency Agence France Presse (AFP) reported from Nigeria that a security source in that country said 15 million naira ($100 000) ransom was paid, negotiated down from 120 million naira.
Creasy said it would be up to Greyling whether he would be willing to speak to the media about his ordeal.
"We would first assess his health and trauma and reunite him with his family," she said.
Greyling's father-in-law, RSG radio personality Johann Russouw, said the family was extremely relieved at his release.
They heard the news from a family member who called them from Lagos, about five minutes before seeing it on the news.
"We as a family had previously made a decision with M-Net that we would only make news of his release public when he was safe with his family in South Africa, and the next moment we saw it on the news," he said.
Greyling had only been able to have a short telephone conversation with his wife, Lorna, Russouw said.
"He said he was tired but healthy and looking forward to seeing his family again."
- SAPA