Abducted widow of ex-Edo speaker still in captivity

The widow of Zakawanu Garuba, a former speaker of Edo state house of assembly, is yet to be released by her captors.

The widow was abducted on her way to her late husband’s burial on Saturday.

The incident took place along the Abuja-Lokoja expressway.

Garuba, who was speaker of the Edo assembly between 2007 and 2009, died in Abuja after a brief illness.

The deceased’s mother, his wife and children were conveying his remains to Edo when the incident happened.

The gunmen had ordered Garuba’s wife, his mother and her driver to follow them while some of the children were allowed to continue their journey to Edo.

Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, had expressed shock over the incident, demanding the release of the captives.

In a statement signed by Crusoe Osagie, his special adviser on media and communication strategy, the governor called on the police to secure the victims’ rescue.

“Governor Godwin Obaseki is deeply saddened by this incident, which he described as distressing more so, with the passing of Rt. Hon. Zakawanu Garuba, earlier today,” the statement read.

“He has ordered the Police Command to ensure that the kidnap victims are rescued. The Commissioner of Police has contacted his Kogi State counterpart and leading the rescue operation.”

However, hours after the governor’s statement, there were reports that the widow was released.

William Aya, spokesman of the Kogi police command, confirmed that three persons were rescued but he did not disclose their identities.

A security source told TheCable on Sunday morning that policemen mistook the speaker’s mother for the wife.

The mother was initially kidnapped but dropped along the road.

“The aged mother and the Jeep conveying them was brought to Auchi last night and people also saw that as a sign of release of the woman,” the source said.

The kidnappers have reportedly contacted the family to demand ransom.