Kidnappers of Osun govt offcials contact families–Source

Abductors of the three officials of Osun State government, who were kidnapped in Kogi State, may have established contact with their families, a top government source yesterday revealed. It was also learnt that the kidnappers have also placed ransom on them while efforts are at top gear to ensure their safe release. Kidnappers had on Friday in Kogi State abducted the Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Adebimpe Ogunlumade. Ogunlumade who was on homeward journey to Osun from Abuja was discovered missing between Obajana and Lokoja. Abducted alongside the permanent secretary was the Director, State Audit, Mr. Tajudeen Badejoko and the driver, Mr. Oladapo Ajani Arogundade. According to a statement issued by the state Head of Service, Mr. Sunday Owoeye, shortly after news of their abduction broke, gunmen forcibly stopped the vehicle the three officials were travelling with between Obajana and Lokoja and violently whisked them away to the state capital. The statement further explained that the abducted officials were returning from Abuja after attending briefing on the State and Local Government Reforms Project; a World Bank and European Union programme. Although no further official statement was made available on the matter on Saturday, but responding to the text message sent to him to confirm insinuations that ransom had been placed on the officials, Mr. Owoeye, simply responded ““Far from the truth.”” Reliable sources within government that preferred anonymity, however, told our correspondent that the kidnappers were in contact with families of the officials already. The sources also confirmed insinuations that ransom may have been placed on them, but could not tell the exact amount, stressing that ““police and other security agencies are collaborating to ensure their safe release.””