Kidnappers release abducted Osun officials
Three officials of the Osun State Government kidnapped on their way to Osun State from Abuja on Friday have been released.
Those kidnapped were the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Adebimpe Ogunlumade; Director, State Audit, Mr. Tajudeen Badejoko, and the Driver, Mr. Oladapo Ajani Arogundade.
It was gathered that they were kidnapped along Lokoja-Okene road while returning from the State and Local Government Reforms Project; a World Bank and European Union Programme.
Osun State Head of Service, Mr. Sunday Owoeye, confirmed the release of the state officials on Sunday.
Owoeye said that, “This is to inform the general public that to the glory of God, the three staffers of the State of Osun Civil Service, Mrs. ‘Bimpe Ogunlumade, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Tajudeen Badejoko, Director of State Audit and the Driver to the Auditor-General (State), Mr. Oladapo Ajani Arogundade, have regained their freedom from their abductors this evening of Sunday, 24th April, 2016.
“Arrangements are now being made to convey them to Osogbo within the shortest possible time by security agents with a view to re-uniting them with their families and relations.
It was gathered that the state government may have pleaded with churches through the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to raise prayer warriors that would continue to intercede on behalf of the victims.
Indeed, the State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, worshipped at Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Southwest 10 Region, Kola-Balogun, where she forwarded the names of the victims to the visiting Regional Overseer from Lagos, Pastor Isaac Omotosho, who asked the congregation to pray for immediate release of the victims.
It was further learnt that the state government had sent signal to other churches where intercession was raised for the victims of the kidnappers.
Similarly messages were said to have been sent to mosques and other places for divine intervention in the matter.
As at the time of filling this report, the state government had dispatched delegation to visit the families and relations of the victims to reassure them that it was leaving no any stone unturned to ensure a quick release of its trio.
The government had also raised delegation of high level security operatives to Kogi State to join forces with those in the state on serious search of the whereabouts of the victims.
Owoeye said that the state government had alerted all security agencies nationwide in general, and Kogi State in particular, towards a safe release of the three.
The statement then appealed to all Nigerians for information that could lead to their immediate release.
