Kidnapped Edo HoS Regains Freedom

It was cheering news among top civil servants in Edo State, on
Monday evening, as news filtered in that kidnapped Head of Service(
HoS), Mr Anthony Okungbowa, has been released.

A source from the Edo State Service Commission disclosed the
Okungbowa was released by his abductors unhurt.

A terse WhatsApp Application message circulated among the civil
servants around 9.13 pm on Monday read: “Breaking…
kidnapped HOS regained freedom unhurt. To God be the glory.”

A family source, who spoke on condition of anonymity also
confirmed the development, saying that Okungbowa was released after
the ransom demanded by his abductors was paid.

While the family source withheld the actual sum of money paid to
buy the HoS’ freedom, he, however, volunteered that the money was
sourced between the family and the state government.

“The most important thing is that he (Okungbowa) has been
released and he is hale and hearty. We just want to thank God that
our brother has been set free and in good health condition,” said
the source enthused.

The source equally revealed that the Police orderly to the HoS,
who was shot during the process of his abduction, died on Monday
evening following complications from the gunshot injury he
sustained.

Okungbowa, it would be recalled, was on Saturday evening
abducted by suspected kidnappers, who killed his official driver,
along Oza Road, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the
state.

He was returning to Benin after attending a church thanksgiving
service organised in honour of Governor Godwin Obaseki, by the
Director-General of the Edo House of Assembly, Mr Festus Osaigbovo,
when the incident happened.

It was cheering news among top civil servants in Edo State, on
Monday evening, as news filtered in that kidnapped Head of Service(
HoS), Mr Anthony Okungbowa, has been released.

A source from the Edo State Service Commission disclosed the
Okungbowa was released by his abductors unhurt.

A terse WhatsApp Application message circulated among the civil
servants around 9.13 pm on Monday read: “Breaking…
kidnapped HOS regained freedom unhurt. To God be the glory.”

A family source, who spoke on condition of anonymity also
confirmed the development, saying that Okungbowa was released after
the ransom demanded by his abductors was paid.

While the family source withheld the actual sum of money paid to
buy the HoS’ freedom, he, however, volunteered that the money was
sourced between the family and the state government.

“The most important thing is that he (Okungbowa) has been
released and he is hale and hearty. We just want to thank God that
our brother has been set free and in good health condition,” said
the source enthused.

The source equally revealed that the Police orderly to the HoS,
who was shot during the process of his abduction, died on Monday
evening following complications from the gunshot injury he
sustained.

Okungbowa, it would be recalled, was on Saturday evening
abducted by suspected kidnappers, who killed his official driver,
along Oza Road, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the
state.

He was returning to Benin after attending a church thanksgiving
service organised in honour of Governor Godwin Obaseki, by the
Director-General of the Edo House of Assembly, Mr Festus Osaigbovo,
when the incident happened.