INEC staff abducted after gunmen kidnapped an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official along the Ebenebe axis of Awka North Local Government Area following separate attacks in the area and reportedly demanded a ₦40 million ransom.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama reported the incident, stating that the attackers kidnapped INEC employee Christy Nkiru Okeke at about 7:00 p.m. on July 24.
Her husband reported the abduction to the B Division Police Headquarters in Awka after the kidnappers contacted the family and demanded a ₦40 million ransom for her release.
Zagazola Makama also reported that about an hour earlier, businessman Emmanuel Nwobodo narrowly escaped a similar attack near Ebenebe Community Secondary School after four armed men, reportedly dressed in dark clothing, opened fire on his Mercedes-Benz while he was returning home from Oba.
According to the report, Nwobodo managed to drive away before discovering that he had sustained a gunshot wound to his left knee. The attackers also damaged his vehicle’s radiator and rear seat belt guard.
According to the report, one of Nwobodo’s employees, Tochukwu Afunenu, fled into a nearby bush during the attack while carrying the businessman’s ATM card and two mobile phones.
Nwobodo became suspicious after receiving calls from his employee’s phone in which the caller claimed he had been kidnapped and demanded a ₦40 million ransom.
“Police said extensive combing of surrounding bushes and intelligence-led tracking operations are ongoing to rescue the abducted victim and apprehend the perpetrators.”
According to the report, detectives are investigating whether the same criminal gang carried out the two attacks, which occurred along the same road within a short period.
Backstory…
The latest incident adds to growing security concerns ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with electoral officials increasingly becoming targets of criminal attacks in different parts of the country.
This comes barely twenty four hours after suspected hoodlums stormed a ward collation centre at Oyinlola DC Primary School in Okuku, Osun State, disrupting an ongoing voter cards distribution exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission and seizing election materials
The Sunday attack caused chaos at the venue, as people present fled in different directions for safety.
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