N. Zealand professor released by gang in PNG after week-long abduction
The police had reportedly been negotiating with the armed group who initially request a ransom of $1 million.
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Bryce Barker and his colleagues were in Papua New Guinea conducting research into the history of human migration into Australia.(University of Southern Queensland via AAP)
A professor from New Zealand and two other researchers were freed in Papua New Guinea after they were held captive for a week by an armed group in the country's mountainous highlands, Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape said in a statement on Saturday.
"It took us a while but the last three have been successfully returned," Marape said.
Professor Bryce Barker, who teaches at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia, and three of his colleagues who are nationals of PNG, were kidnapped by an armed group last Sunday.
The police had reportedly been negotiating with the armed group who initially request a ransom of $1 million.
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The kidnappers later dropped the asking price and abandoned the 24-hour deadline.
PM Marape said the hostages were freed after a series of "covert operations", and that the original ransom demand was not met -- without providing further details.
"We apologize to the families of those taken as hostages for ransom," Marape said.
"To criminals, there is no profit in crime. We thank God that life was protected."
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