Osun Speaker decries abduction, killing of Osun Perm Sec

Outraged by the abduction and killing of Kemi Kolawole, a Permanent Secretary in Osun State, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam, has called on the federal authorities to provide adequate security on the nation’s highways, particularly the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja Expressway.

Salaam spoke against the backdrop of the killing of Kolawole and her driver on Okene-Abuja highway by some suspected kidnappers.

“It is painful and shocking,” the speaker said in a statement on Saturday in Osogbo.

The statement was signed by Goke Butika, his Chief Press Secretary.

Salaam decried the spate of killings and insecurity, particularly on Okene-Abuja road, and urged the Kogi State and the Federal Governments to take urgent steps to find the killers of the permanent secretary and her driver.

Kolawole was the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of General Services, Osun State Governor’s Office until her death.

The permanent secretary was travelling to Abuja from Osogbo on an official assignment on Thursday when the hoodlums kidnapped her and took her to an unknown destination.

The deceased was scheduled to attend the inauguration of Justice Abiola Adewemimo as one of the judges of the National Industrial Court.

Salaam said: “I condole with the families of the deceased and pray that God will grant them rest; I also comfort their loved ones, relations and dependants.’’

The Osun Head of Service, Sunday Owoeye, has also described the deaths as a rude shock.

Also, the Forum of Permanent Secretaries in the state commiserated with the families of the deceased, the state public service and the Osun Government on the loss.