Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Professor Cyprian Onyeji, at about 11.30pm on Thursday regained freedom, after spending eight days with his kidnappers. According to information gathered by Saturday Independent, Onyeji was picked by security agents around Igbariam Junction in Anambra State at about 11.30pm. Our sources disclosed that the kidnappers let him off the hook after brokering a deal with members of his family. The kidnappers had earlier demanded a N200 million ransom but after negotiation with members of his family, the ransom was reduced to N100million. It was however not clear as at press time if the ransom was paid to secure the release of the vice chancellor. A security source disclosed that the vice chancellor looked so traumatised when he was picked up by security agents who were in the company of members of his family. Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Anambra State Police Command, Ossy Ugwuoti, broke the news of the Vice chancellor’s release to journalists around 1.am on Friday. “The vice chancellor has been released. He was seen at Igbariam Junction around 11.30 pm and has been re-united with his family. He is hale and hearty,” Ugwuoti said. When contacted on phone, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Enugu State Command, Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed that the Vice chancellor has regained his freedom. “Sketchy details available has it that the Vice chancellor was seen around Igbariam axis of Anambra State on Thursday at about 11.30pm. He is hale and hearty and has been re-united with his family,” the police spokesman said. As soon as news spread that the Vice Chancellor has returned, hundreds of jubilant sympathizers thronged his home at Independence Layout Enugu, to join members of his family to celebrate his survival in the kidnappers den. Meanwhile, the entire ESUT community, including staff and students jubilated over the return of their Vice chancellor on Friday. Academic activities were paralyzed as staff and students who have been praying for his release, jubilated at the ESUT Main Campus in Agbani. “The entire university community is in jubilation. You know that we had prayed fervently for his release. God heard our prayers and he returned hale and hearty. So, we are jubilating and praising God,” some of the jubilating students said. Gunmen had kidnapped Prof Onyeji at about 11.am last Wednesday when his convoy was about entering the gate of ESUT permanent site at Agbani. According to eye-witnesses, the kidnappers, armed with sophisticated weapons, came out of a nearby bush where they mounted an ambush and rained bullets at his convoy. In the process, three policemen attached to him were injured while the tyres of a police patrol van in his convoy were deflated. Having dislodged the vice chancellor’s security, the kidnappers surrounded his official car, forced out the driver and police orderly and took him away in his car. Nigerian Campus Personality rejoices with ESUT Students and his family.