ISIS terrorists release kidnapped citizen for $50,000 ransom in Diyala

Islamic State militants have freed a kidnapped citizen in Diyala Province, after his family paid a $50,000 ransom.

“IS militants had kidnapped the citizen from his house in Jalawla Town, in Diyala Province, two weeks ago,” local sources told Al-Ghad Press on Monday.

The sources added that the abducted citizen was released after his family sold their farm to pay the ransom.

IS terrorists had demanded a $150,000 ransom first, but the kidnapped citizen’s family managed to reduce it to 50,000 U.S. dollars, the sources pointed out.

On Sunday, two kidnapped girls have been freed at al-Obaidy District, east of Baghdad, the Baghdad Operations Command said.

In a statement, the command said two of the kidnappers were arrested and referred to the bodies concerned for interrogation.

Iraqi officials fear that kidnapping cases are affecting investments in Iraq, where these cases have become a threat to businesses, their employees and investors. This could lead businesses to move or avoid the country.

In the chaos of 2003, when the US-led coalition invaded Iraq, and at the peak of the civil war in 2006 and 2007, kidnapping cases increased and gangs proliferated, which led to the emergence of the prominent abduction groups and organized crime concept.

Source: Iraqi News