The former Minister of Environment, Mrs Laurentia Mallam and her husband, who were kidnapped by gunmen along Kaduna-Bwari highway, have regained freedom.

The Kaduna State Police Command’s spokesman, Aliyu Usman, who confirmed the release to Channels Television, said that the couple were rescued at about 6:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

Although he declined giving details on how the former minister and her husband were rescued from captivity, the police spokesman explained that both of them were in stable condition.

It was not clear if ransom was paid.

After their abduction, Mr Usman said that security operatives had been deployed to rescue the victims and arrest the kidnappers.

According to him, the former Minister and her husband were abducted on Monday evening along Bwari-Jere road when they were returning to their Kaduna home from Abuja.

Kidnapping is increasing in different Nigerian states at a period that the nation is facing its worst economic situation in decades.