After spending 30 days in the kidnappers’ den, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Local Government, Mrs. Serafina Otazi, has regained her freedom.

The commissioner was released on Thursday after she was said to have paid an undisclosed amount of money as ransom.

Otazi, who was once the Commissioner for Women Affairs, was kidnapped by gunmen in Otuoke, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s hometown in Ogbia Local Government Area, on December 19, 2015.

She was on her way to attend a function in Ewoi, a community close to Otuoke in Ogbia when she was seized by her assailants.

But after spending the Christmas and New Year with her abductors, Otazi was said to have regained her freedom.

It was learnt that the commissioner paid an undisclosed amount of money as ransom to secure her release.

The abductors were said to have initially demanded N200m as ransom.

A source, who did not want his name in print, said the kidnappers dropped their victim at Ondewari community in Southern Ijaw LGA about 3 o’clock in the morning of Thursday and zoomed off.

The source said, “She was later made to board one of the speedboats leaving the community this morning on her way to Yenagoa around 7am.

“As would be expected, ransom was paid before her eventual release as the kidnappers were said to have earlier demanded N200m.

“The same abductors had to go to Yenagoa earlier to pick a relation of the lady with the ransom to their camp to deliver the money and sight the victim.

“These abductors have three camps and resorted to a strategy of relocating her from time to time.”