Edo state Governor Godwin Obaseki has called on the Nigeria Police Force to swing into action and ensure the release of the wife of the late former Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, Zakawanu Garuba.
Garuba’s wife and her driver were kidnapped in Kogi state on Saturday, July 18 along Lokoja/Abuja Road.
The victims and Garuba’s driver were said to be on their way from Abuja to Auchi in Edo State for the funeral of Garuba who died on Friday.
Garuba was the speaker of the state House of Assembly between 2007 and 2009. He died in Abuja on Friday, July 17 after a brief undisclosed illness at 54.
Obaseki, who expressed shock at the news of the kidnap, tasked the Edo Police Command to immediately launch a rescue operation.
In a statement on Saturday signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, the governor called on the State Police Commissioner, Johnson Kokumo, to work with his Kogi state counterpart to secure the victims’ rescue.
The statement reads;
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. 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.
He said the police would get the necessary support to track down the kidnappers and fast-track the safe rescue of the victims.
