There's new hope that an Alberta journalist missing in Somalia may still be alive.
Ransom for Amanda Lindhout has reportedly dropped from $2.5 million to $100,000 and a Somali journalist who was travelling with Lindhout has been released.
Abdifatah Mohamed Elmi said he has no idea why their group was abducted back in August but he still has hope that Amanda Lindhout will be released safely.
Elmi was working as a journalist last August when he met up with two other journalists, Albertan journalist Amanda Lindhout and Australian Nigel Brennan.
"We had a relation kind of quickly because they are journalists and I am journalist, and we worked together," Elmi told CTV News on the phone Friday.
The trio decided to report on the situation at this refugee camp at the port of Elasha so they left by car, along with two Somali drivers, but they never made it to the camp.
Just southwest of Mogadishu in Somalia, their car was pulled over by men with guns, who blindfolded the group.
"We were kidnapped at the same time and the kidnappers had guns pointed (at) us," Elmi said.
The group was separated and held captive for five months and during that time, the captors released video of Lindhout and Brennan, in which the kidnappers demanded millions for their safe return.
"I asked them, where's my colleagues? They told me, don't ask us this question," he said.
Earlier this month, Elmi was released and he thinks that because the ransom has been reportedly dropped for both journalists, it's a sign that they may be okay.
"I think Amanda and Nigel are still alive," Elmi said. "The kidnappers want something."
Back in October, the kidnappers threatened to kill Lindhout if they didn't receive the money by the end of the month. It's a deadline that passed close to three months ago.
With files from CTV's Bill Fortier
