A Catholic priest who was kidnapped last week in southern Nigeria has been released and is in good health, Italy's foreign minister Angelino Alfano announced on Monday.
"I am happy that the Italian priest abducted in# Nigeria, Don Maurizio Pallu, has been freed," Alfano tweeted.
Alfano learned overnight from the Italian foreign ministry's crisis unit that Pallu had been released unharmed , Alfano told Italy's Radio Capital.
"He is well," Alfano said.
An armed local criminal gang robbed and abducted Pallu as he travelled to Benin City last Thursday. Several Nigerians were also abducted with him in his vehicle, Vatican Radio reported.
The Vatican said it learned of Pallu's kidnapping with "apprehension" and the Catholic Church was praying for his rapid release.
Pallu had been working as a missionary in Nigeria for three years.
