Kidnapped Imo Commissioner Regains Freedom

OWERRI – Imo State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Lady Chioma Ogoke, who was kidnapped nearly one week ago in Owerri, has been released by her captors. Confirming the news in a telephone interview, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. Obinna Duruji, said his colleague was released in the early hours of yesterday. He said: ”The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Lady Chioma Ogoke, has been released by her captors. She was released today (yesterday).” When asked whether any ransom was paid, the Commissioner declined comment, especially as security agencies are said to be still probing the incident. Dr. Duruji said the hoodlums dropped Lady Ogoke somewhere around Nwaorieubi, Mbaitoli Local Council Area of the state, from where she quickly picked a cab to her residence. The commissioner could not tell if anybody had been arrested or not, but only pointed out that he would not like to say anything that would jeopardize investigation into the matter.