From Jessica Tamaradoute, Asaba

A retired army Major, Azum Asoya and his 55-year-old wife, Elizabeth, who were abducted on November 30 in Delta State, were set free Sunday with both having a finger less as proof of the ordeal they suffered.

It would be recalled that their mean kidnappers had sent two fingers to their family on Friday, after several days of negotiations failed to yield the desired compliance, but the state police had said it doubted the fingers belonged to the couple and was probably from dead people.

The couple was reportedly dropped in Otulu, Aniocha North local government area of the state and are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital for their chopped of fingers and high blood pressure.

A family source who wants to be anonymous said the couple was severely beaten and their injured hands treated with urine.

The source said the family was able to raise N5 million, which is N4 million short of the negotiated sum, for the freedom of the couple when it became clear that their abductors were heartless and that the Police had no clue to securing their safe release.

The kidnappers initially demanded for N30 million.

The Delta state police command, public relations officer, Lucky Uyabeme, confirmed the release of the pair but said no ransom was paid to the abductors.