The Head of Service of Edo State, Mr Anthony Okungbowa, has regained freedom from his abductors.
Okungbowa was abducted on Saturday evening by unknown gunmen who turned out to be kidnappers.
The incident occurred along Oza Road, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State. The HoS was released by his abductors on Monday night according to a family source, who pleaded anonymity. However, a handsome ransom was paid to the kidnappers to secure his release.
A family source disclosed that Okungbowa was set free after payment of an undisclosed amount as ransom demanded by his kidnappers; even as he added that the HoS was hale and hearty since his release.
The source disclosed that the ransom was paid through a collaboration between the family and the State government.
“We just want to thank God that our brother has been set free and in good health condition,” said the source.
However, the source lamented that the Police orderly attached to the HoS; who was shot during the process of the abduction, died on Monday evening. The orderly died following complications from the gun shot injury he sustained during the kidnapping incident.
The driver of the HoS was shot by the gunmen before abducting him; as he was returning to Benin after attending a local event in Oza.
Meanwhile, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has described kidnappings of schoolchildren as a new cultural enterprise in Nigerian.
Soyinka made this explanation in response to the release of 344 Kankara, Katsina State schoolboys, who were kidnapped by bandits on December 11.
Speaking on Saturday, December 19, the Nobel Laureate at the public presentation of Dr. Nike Okundaye’s biography written by Kofo Adeleke said: “So, let me say how delighted I am to be here today; some of the icing on the cake of the last few days, which have been very traumatic for us, Nigerians; and for humanity in general, you know the kidnapping of school children which seems to have become a Nigerian culture as a new cultural enterprise in Nigeria but I suppose as they say, all is well that ends well, it ended well so far; we await the next blue in-between.”
