Kidnappers set free Sierra Leonean diplomat

Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma. Sierra Leone diplomat Major General (Rtd) Alfred Claude Nelson-Williams was released by kidnappers just hours after the Freetown government announced President Ernest Bai Koroma had dispatched a high profile delegation to Abuja. PHOTO | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Alfred Claude Nelson-Williams' kidnappers were reported to have demanded ransom.
  • News of the release comes just hours after the Freetown government announced President Ernest Bai Koroma had dispatched a high profile delegation to Abuja.
  • The Sierra Leonean High Commissioner to Nigeria and members of her staff were questioned by Nigerian police over the kidnapping.

FREETOWN

A Sierra Leonean diplomat kidnapped in Nigeria has been freed, the government announced on Wednesday.

“We are pleased, as a government, to announce to you that our Deputy High Commissioner in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been released,” Information Minister Mohamed Bangura broke at an emergency press conference at State House.

He said the official was at the Sierra Leonean High Commission in Abuja at the time of the press conference, undergoing debriefing.

Major General (Rtd) Alfred Claude Nelson-Williams was seized by unknown people while on an official visit to the northern state of Kaduna.

His kidnappers were reported to have demanded ransom but the government has refused to encourage any discussion on the demands.

News of the release comes just hours after the Freetown government announced President Ernest Bai Koroma had dispatched a high profile delegation to Abuja.

STAFF QUESTIONED

The delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Samura Kamara, also included the heads of the Police and the Office of National Security, as well as the Justice Minister.

Reports earlier on Tuesday had revealed that the Sierra Leonean High Commissioner to Nigeria and members of her staff were questioned by Nigerian police over the kidnapping.

It also followed speculations on the alleged bad blood between the High Commissioner, Ms Haja Hafsatu Kaba, and her deputy. There have been questions about why the diplomat would travel by land, rather than by air, while on a visit to a restive area like Kaduna.

Officials declined to comment beyond the facts that the diplomat had been released.

“Until the delegation returns from Nigeria, we are not going to discuss how he was kidnapped’’ Mr Bangura said.