The Osun State government says Olufunke Kolawole, Permanent Secretary, Bureau of General Services, in the Office of the Osun State Governor, has been murdered by suspected kidnappers who “brutally attacked her” as she was travelling to Abuja.

Kolawole was travelling to attend the inauguration of Abiola Adewemimo, a former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, who was recently appointed as a judge of the National Industrial Court (NIC).

She was initially thought to have been kidnapped but her body was later recovered along the Okene-Abuja highway.

Sunday Owoeye, Osun State Head of Service, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Friday to condole with the family and colleagues of the deceased.

“On behalf of the Forum of Head of Service and Permanent Secretaries, Tutors-General, Accountant-General, Auditors-General and Surveyor-General, and with rude shock and a deep sense of loss, I hereby painfully announce the untimely death of Mrs. OLUFUNKE OLUWAKEMI KOLAWOLE who was brutally attacked by kidnappers while travelling along Okene-Abuja highway on her way to Abuja on Thursday, 12th July, 2017 for an official assignment,” read the statement.

“Until her death, Mrs. Kolawole was the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of General Services, Office of the Governor, State of Osun.

“The Forum commiserates with the families of the deceased, the entire public service and the State Government of Osun on this irreparable loss.”