By Osahon Osahon
The family of the late former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Zakawanu Garuba, has confirmed the released of the late lawmaker’s wife, Hajia Hassana Garuba, and her driver by their abductors.
Mrs. Garuba and her driver who were part of an advance team dispatched to await the arrival of the corpse of her late husband but were kidnapped on their way to Auchi along the Okene/Auchi Expressway gunmen on Saturday.
They were said to have been released from captivity late Monday night thereby missing out of the funeral rites for the deceased.
The gunmen were said have demanded N15 million ransom from the family but unclear if the family paid the abductors of the release of their victims which allegedly included the former speaker’s children.
ALSO READ: Wife, Children, Driver Of Late Ex-Edo Assembly Speaker, Garuba, Kidnapped
Police sources had earlier claimed late Saturday night that the deceased’s wife had been free unknown to them that the woman rescued was the mother of the former speaker who was left behind by the hoodlums.
Her release from captivity however lightened the mood of the family members and the entire Auchi residents.
A family source said she was freed along with driver by the kidnappers and handed over to those who negotiated the ransom money at Okpella, a border town between Edo and Kogi states.
It was gathered that friends and associates of the late politician had to cough out about N15 million to secure their freedom.
A younger brother of the late politician, Mr. Kadiri Garuba who spoke on behalf of the family, expressed profound gratitude to Governor Godwin Obaseki others who shared in the family’s pain and agony.
It would be recalled that Hajia Garuba was also abducted a few years ago, along Benin/Auchi highway, around Ehor, in Uhumwode local government area of the state.
