Kidnapped Edo HoS Okungbowa Regains Freedom

The kidnapped Edo State Head of Service (HoS) Anthony Okungbowa, has regained his freedom from the den of kidnappers, where he had been since Saturday evening, after the payment of huge ransom by the administration of Godwin Obaseki.

Okungbowa was seized at gunpoint, after the hoodlums killed his driver on the spot, while his police escort went missing, but he was later confirmed dead from the gunshot injuries he sustained, while returning from a social event, while the attack took place along Oza Road in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo state.

A member of Okungbowa’s family, who spoke last night through the phone, confirmed. that the traumatised head of service was released Monday evening but was not forthcoming on the exact amount paid as ransom.

The family member simply said: “Barr. Okungbowa regained his freedom today, after payment of the demanded ransom. It was so obvious that the kidnappers were after money. As soon as they got the huge sum of money, the Edo State Head of Service, who is hale and hearty, was allowed to go. The ransom was paid through collaboration between the family and Edo State government.

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“I will not give further details, since officers and men of Edo State Police Command, led by CP Babatunde Kokumo, now AIG (Assistant Inspector-General of Police) are still investigating the barbaric incident, which is capable of driving away investors from the Southsouth state (Edo).”

The family member was not happy that Okungbowa’s police orderly and driver were killed by the rampaging kidnappers, who moved the head of the service into the forest, stressing that the unfortunate policeman died from complication from the gunshot injuries he sustained, while declaring that the driver died on the spot, from the rain of bullets.

The source said: “Members of the family of Barr. Okungbowa are thanking God that our brother has been set free and in good health condition. We are, however, saddened that his police escort and driver were killed by the heartless criminals.”

Edo Police Commissioner, Babatunde Kokumo, and the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chidi Nwabuzor, a Superintendent of Police (SP), last night, declined to comment on the release of Okungbowa and the huge ransom paid, but a top police officer, who spoke in confidence, confirmed that the ransom was in millions of naira and that the head of service had been reunited with his family, after medical attention.

Insecurity in Edo state was heightened by the October 19 invasion by hoodlums, who hijacked the peaceful #EndSARS protests, of the Maximum Correctional Centre (White House) on Sapele Road, and the Oko Medium Correctional Centre on Airport Road, both in Benin, leading to the escape of 1993 inmates, who immediately returned to crime.

The hoodlums also razed seven police stations in Edo state, during the #EndSARS protests, with a large cache of arms, ammunition, police uniforms, and other valuable items carried away, while vehicles of policemen and visitors, as well as exhibit vehicles, were all burnt, with the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and policemen of the razed police stations now operating from Edo Police Headquarters at the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin.