Abducted journalist freed in Nigeria: Police

The police in Nigeria's Rivers state on Saturday confirmed the release of Vanguard Newspaper columnist Donu Kogbara, who was abducted from her residence 11 days ago.

Kogbara was freed in the early hours of Saturday, state police spokesperson Ahmad Muhammad told Xinhua in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Muhammad said Kogbara was in good condition and has reunited with her family.

The police spokesman, however, did not say if any ransom was paid before she was released or if any arrest was made.

Kogbara was kidnapped in front of her house in the Nkpogu area of Port Harcourt on August 30.

She works for the BBC, Channel 4, the Sunday Times and the Mail and has been reporting for the Vanguard newspaper for some 30 years. She was visiting her family in the Rivers when she was abducted.

On September 9, Rivers State commissioner of police said five suspected kidnappers had been killed by the authorities and three kidnap victims rescued.

Kidnapping of foreigners for ransom is common in the oil-rich southern part of Nigeria, with victims usually released unharmed once a ransom is paid.