OSUN FEMALE PERMANENT SECRETARY KIDNAPPED BY GUNMEN

The permanent secretary of the Osun State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs. Adebimpe Ogunlumade has been kidnapped by gunmen while she was returning to Osogbo from Abuja.

Ogunlumade was kidnapped along with a director from the ministry, Mr. Tajudeen Badejoko and her driver, Mr. Oladapo Arogundade Ajani who accompanied her to Abuja for an official assignment.

The three officials were kidnapped at Obajana along Lokoja-Okene road in Kogi State, while the state auditor general who also travelled with them was said to have barely escaped.

A statement by the Osun State Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Sunday Olayinka Owoeye, confirmed the incident. “The officials were returning from Abuja where they attended a briefing on the State and Local Government Reforms Project; a World Bank and European Union Programme,” the statement said.

The HoS said the state government has alerted all security agencies nationwide and Kogi State Police Command in particular, towards safe release of the three abducted officials.

Owoeye appealed to Nigerians to assist the government and security operatives with information that could lead to the release of the kidnapped officials.

Osun State police spokesman, DSP Folasade Odoro said the command was working with its Kogi State counterpart and assured that the abducted officials would be rescued.