Osun perm sec,director,driver kidnapped in Kogi

Gunmen operating along  the Lokoja-Okene in Kogi State  yesterday waylaid and kidnapped three officials of the Osun State government who were on official assignment.

Kidnapped were the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs. Adebimpe Ogunlumade; the Director, State Audit in the ministry, Mr. Tajudeen Badejoko; and the permanent secretary’s driver, Mr. Oladapo Ajani Arogundade, who were all returning from an assignment in Abuja .

The  fourth occupant of the car said to be the state’s Auditor General reportedly escaped as the gunmen struck at Obajana  on  the highway.

 The  Head of the Osun State Civil Service, Mr. Sunday  Owoeye, confirmed the abduction in a statement in Oshogbo statement.

He called it  unfortunate.

Shedding  light on the development, Owoeye said: “Preliminary information available to us indicates that the gunmen accosted them between Obajana and Lokoja the Kogi State capital and forced them to stop before the three officials were violently whisked away.

“The officials were returning from Abuja where they attended the briefing on the State and Local Government Reforms Project; a World Bank and European Union Programme.”

  He said security agencies nationwide, particularly in Kogi State, “have been alerted to ensure speedy and safe release of the victims.”

  Owoeye also appealed to Nigerians with useful information to contact the security .

The Nation  gathered in Lokoja that the victims were marched into a nearby bush by the kidnappers soon after the abduction.

The victims’ vehicle in which they were traveling was abandoned by the road side.

When contacted by phone, the Kogi State Police Commissioner, Mr. Yakubu Umar said he was in Abuja, and was yet to be briefed about the development.

Only last  Monday, three employees  of the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) Limited, Itakpe, located along the Lokoja-Okene highway in Kogi State were also kidnapped by suspected kidnappers.

The abducted workers were named as  John Job, Mohammed Tajudeen and Samuel Abiodun.