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Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola

The three officials of the Osun State Government abducted by gunmen in Kogi State last Friday have been released.

Punch gathered that the three civil servants released on Sunday evening  were still with security operatives in Kogi State and they might not return to Osogbo, the Osun State capital until Monday. 

The three officials are: the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Finance, Mrs, Adebimpe Ogunlumade; Director, State Audit, Mr. Tajudeen Badejoko, and their driver, Mr. Oladapo Arogundade.

The trio were abducted around 1:30pm on Friday while returning to Osun State after  an  official assignment in Abuja.


The Head of Service in Osun State, Mr. Sunday Owoeye, confirmed the release of the three civil servant to our correspondent through a text message.

The HOS text read, ” Yes, they were released unharmed this evening and a public announcement is being made on it. They are yet to be in Osogbo.”

A source told our correspondent that Owoeye had spoken to the permanent secretary; the director and the driver, who spent two days in the den of the hoodlums.

The media aide to Osun State Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, also confirmed the release of the three officials in a telephone interview with our correspondent.

He said, ” It is true that the three of them have regain their freedom. That is all the information I have for now. They are still in Kogi State with security operatives.

” The head of service spoke with three of them after they regained their freedom.”

It was not clear if ransom was paid for the release of the officials but there were unconfirmed rumour that the kidnappers demanded N50 million ransom.