Two top management members of the Oke-Ero Local Government Area Council of Kwara State, Alhaji Musibau Amuda (the Director of Personnel Management) and Mrs Omoladun Arinde (the Legal Officer), who were reportedly kidnapped last Friday, have regained their freedom.
Chairman of the LG, James Fadipe, who disclosed this in a statement made available to the press on Monday, said the officers returned safely in good health.
They had been reported kidnapped while travelling from Iloffa, the headquarters of the local government, to Ilorin, the state capital last Friday.
The Kwara State Police Command, in a statement signed by the Spokesperson for the police, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi on Saturday, confirmed that five armed men blocked the road around Eleyin village via Isanlu-Isin in the Isin local government council area of the state where they stopped two private vehicles (a Honda and a Toyota) and took away all seven occupants of the vehicles, whose identities were not disclosed.
Ejire-Adeyemi, on Monday, said in a statement that two victims of the kidnapping were rescued; police were still carrying on with operations to rescue the remaining five victims and apprehend the abductors.
The chairman of the Oke-Ero LGA, in his statement on Monday, did not disclose how the officers were rescued but thanked the state governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the leadership of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, security operatives, traditional rulers and religious leaders for their efforts in the return of the officers.
The statement stated, “We extend our heartfelt appreciation and sincere gratitude to the Almighty God for His mercy and protection over our dear Director of Personnel Management, Alhaji Musibau Amuda, and the Local Government Legal Officer, Barrister Omoladun Elizabeth Arinde, who have safely returned to us in good health.
This is indeed the Lord’s doing, and we are filled with joy and thanksgiving.
We are deeply grateful to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman CON, and the leadership of ALGON for their steadfast support during this challenging period.
We also express our profound thanks to religious leaders, traditional rulers, security operatives, political leaders, party men and women, DPM and LGT forums, and all well-wishers who stood by us in prayer, encouragement, and action.
May the Almighty God continue to bless you all abundantly. We remain committed to working together for the continued peace, progress, and development of our local government.
In this moment of joy, we offer prayers for continued protection and success for all. May God grant us peace, unity, and progress as we continue to serve our people.”
