An Italian construction worker kidnapped in Nigeria’s main oil region has been freed after being held for a day and following a ransom demand of more than $700,000, officials said Thursday.

“He was released on the 10th of December,” said police spokesman Eguavoen Emokpae, adding he had been kidnapped a day earlier. He identified the victim as Carmelo Stella of a company called Moreno.

Director of State Security Service in the state, Andrew Iorkyar, said the kidnappers had initially made a demand of more than $700,000 as ransom. Mr. Carmelo

Stella was a project director for road construction work in the state. Mr Iorkar also said four people had been arrested in connection with the issue.
He however didn’t say if the ransom was paid.

The Italian was taken hostage in the Ogbia area of Bayelsa state in the Niger Delta region in Africa’s most populated country.
Iorkyar told reporters he was rescued from Ogbia waterways after his kidnappers had demanded the ransom.