Kidnapped Edo Deputy Gov’s CPS regains freedom

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN—Chief Press Secretary to Deputy Governor of Edo State, Mr. Kelly Odaro, who was abducted on Saturday by suspected kidnappers, regained his freedom, Tuesday.

Odaro, who thanked God for spearing his life when members of the Edo State chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, led by its interim Chairman, Mr Tunde Egberenwen, paid him a visit, said it was a traumatic experience but thanked God for His grace.

He said: “It  was like a movie because as I was driving into my compound, they stopped me and dragged me into a waiting car. I was blindfolded and did not even know where they took me to. But the people were nice to me, they brought food but I refused to eat. I thank God for saving my life and I want to thank everybody for their support.”

Egberenwen, who led a prayer session at Mr. Odaro’s residence, stressed the need for security agents in the state and the nation as a whole to provide adequate security for journalists to conduct their activities without any form of intimidation.

He said: “Journalists need to be protected at all times by both government and security agents. We are working for the society and it is our strong belief that we need a conducive environment to operate. I want to commend men of the State Security Services and the police in the state for curbing the activities of kidnappers so far.”