Kidnapped former Super Eagles midfielder and Udinese of Italy player, Christian Obodo has regained his freedom after a combined team of security operatives led by Delta State Commissioner of Police rescued him from his abductors Sunday evening.

Obodo was abducted by a gang of kidnappers Saturday morning on his way to church. He was taken to Isoko Local Government where he was kept under hostage by his abductors.

But in a swift operation on Sunday, Obodo was rescued by a crack squad of the State Police Command and was taken to Warri.

“Right now Obodo is a free man”, confirms Timi Ebikagboro, spokesman of Delta State government omned Warri Wolves.

“A detachment of the State Police Command led by the State Police Commissioner rescued him at Isoko Local Government”, Ebikagboro said without any further information on whether there was any casuality during the rescue operation.

“As I speak with you right now he is on his way to Warri where he will be kept in a hotel under tight security.

“Then tomorrow, he will be taken to his home and then an official statement will be made”, Ebikagboro concluded.

Interestingly the Police had only yesterday vowed to rescue Obodo unhurt after he was kidnapped a day earlier in Warri.

"We confirm that Obodo was kidnapped yesterday (Saturday) in Effurum (near Warri). We are making all diligent efforts to ensure that he is rescued unhurt," Delta State police spokesman Charles Muka told AFP yesterday.

"We are very hopeful that we will rescue him alive. We are working in combination with all other security agencies, including local vigilante groups and communities. We are combing everywhere."

Obodo is the first Nigerian footballer to be abducted. Before now, relations of Nigerian footballers have been seized, and released later. The brother of Everton defender Joseph Yobo was kidnapped in 2008 and freed days later, while last year the father of Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi was also abducted in the central city of Jos before being freed after a police raid.