L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, discussing with Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Barr. Danladi Ibrahim and General Manager, Marine Service, NIWA, Engr. Olusegun Balogun during a meeting with the Governor in Abuja, recently
Top Osun State Government officials Kidnapped in Kogi
Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo and Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja
Three top Osun State government officials have been kidnapped along Obajana-Lokoja-Abuja road while returning from Abuja.
The state government confirmed the kidnap through a release signed by the Head of Service, Mr. Sunday Olayinka Owoeye.
The release reads in part: “Preliminary information available to us indicate 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.
“The Government has alerted all necessary security agencies nationwide in general and Kogi State in particular towards safe release of the three abducted officials”.
The government however appealed to all Nigerians for useful information that could lead to their immediate release.
THISDAY gathered that the victims were marched into the bush by their captors while the official vehicle in which they were traveling was abandoned by the road side.
The Permanent Secretary and the Director were said to be on their way from Abuja where they had gone to represent the state at the monthly FAAC meeting.
When THISDAY called on the Kogi State Police Commissioner, Mr. Yakubu Umar, he disclosed that he was in Abuja but yet to be briefed.
It would recalled that just this week Monday, three staff of the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) Ltd, situated at Itakpe along the Lokoja-Okene high way in Kogi State were also kidnapped by some suspected kidnappers.
The abducted workers were John Job, Mohammed Tajudeen and Samuel Abiodun.
