3 Kidnapped Osun Govt Officials, Iron Ore Miners Regain Freedom in Kogi

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The kidnapped Osun State Government Officials successfully regained their freedom in Kogi on Sunday evening at about 4pm.

The three officials namely the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Finance, Mrs, Adebimpe Ogunlumade; Director, State Audit, Mr. Tajudeen Badejoko, and their driver, Mr. Oladapo Arogundade were abducted last week.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of Kogi State, Mr. Yakubu Usman mobilized his officers and men to secure the release of the kidnapped officials of the Osun State government who were kidnapped by gunmen at Obajana along Lokoja-Okene highway have been released.

SavidNews learnt that three Osun government officials comprising a permanent secretary, a director and a driver who were on their way from Abuja, were waylaid by gunmen and taken to unknown destination.

Kogi State Police Commissioner, Mr Yakubu Usman, who confirmed the release of the three Osun civil servants, however did not state whether ransom was paid before their release.

Also confirming the release, the Director of Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Osun State Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon said in a statement made available to journalists late yesterday, “The Permanent Secretary of Osun State Ministry of
Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Adebimpe Ogunlumade, her driver, Mr. Oladapo Arogundade Ajani and a Director from the ministry, Mr. Tajudeen Badejoko who were kidnapped by gunmen Friday have been reissued safely… Arrangements are now being made to convey them to Osogbo within the shortest possible time with a view to re-uniting them with their families and relations.”

In a related development, the three staff of the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) in Itakpe who were abducted last week have secured freedom after N300, 000 was paid as ransom for them.

The abductors had demanded for N30 million for the three victims but later came down to N300, 000 when they realized that paying such amount was not feasible.

The freed workers, namely John Job, Mohammed Tajudeen and Samuel Abiodun, were abducted at the entrance of the NIOMCO management building last Monday.

Reacting to the development, Governor Yahaya Bello who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary said he will work with security agents to ensure Kogi is free from criminals.

“I want to thank the Police and other security agencies who worked tirelessly to ensure the release of the kidnapped officials from our sister state of Osun.

“Our government will stop at nothing at ensuring criminals are defeated. Kogi is a confluence of opportunities and not a crime hotspot. Our government will provide the necessary facilities and equipment to strengthen our security agencies.

“I also urge the people of Kogi State to work assiduously to provide intelligence to security agents to help entrench security in the state. We shall defeat the criminals who are bent on giving our state a bad image”.

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