UPDATED: 3 Osun state officials kidnapped in Kogi

Three officials of the Osun state government were kidnapped on the Obajana–Lokoja road in Kogi on Friday.

According to NAN, the victims were taken into a nearby bush, while the official vehicle in which they were traveling was abandoned on the road side.

They were said to be on their way from Abuja, where they attended a World Bank and European Union Programme on local government reforms project.

Sunday Owoeye, head of Osun civil service, later released a statement where the identities of the victims were revealed.

They were identified as Adebimpe Ogunlumade, permanent secretary of the state ministry of finance; Oladapo Ajani, her driver; and Tajudeen Badejoko, a director in the ministry.

The state auditor-general who also traveled with the officials, managed to escape.

Their abduction comes four days after three mine workers were seized outside their company’s premises in the Itakpe area of Kogi.

The kidnappers demanded a ransom of N30 million.

Kidnapping is on the rise in Kogi and some other parts of the country, with the government promising to do everything possible to tackle insecurity.

Recently, the Oyo state government introduced capital punishment for kidnapping.