Anambra INEC Employee Abducted, Kidnappers Demand N40 Million

An employee of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been kidnapped by gunmen and a ransom of ₦40 million demanded for her release in Anambra State.

It was gathered that the incident occurred at the Ebenebe axis of Awka North Local Government Area of the state.

Security analyst, Zagazola Makama, reported the abduction, saying the incident occurred shortly after another attack was carried out on a businessman in the same area.

The report says that the INEC staff member identified as Christy Nkiru Okeke was seized around 7 pm on July 24.

Her husband later reported the incident at the B Division Police Headquarters in Awka after the kidnappers contacted the family demanding a sum of ₦40m for her release, the report added.

The details surrounding her kidnapping were not immediately clear as of the time of this report.

But security operatives have reportedly begun search for the victim and rescue her from the abductors.

A businessman, Emmanuel Nwobodo, reportedly escaped a similar attack near the Ebenebe Community Secondary School about one hour before the INEC worker was abducted.

The report said Nwobodo was coming back from Oba when four armed men dressed in dark clothing allegedly opened fire on his Mercedes-Benz.

The businessman reportedly sped away to escape the scene despite the attack.

Later he found out he had been shot in the left knee.

His vehicle was also damaged, with the gunmen’s attack damaging the radiator and rear seat belt guard, it is reported.

Another staff member identified as Tochukwu Afunenu was also said to have fled into a nearby bush during the incident.

The report said when he allegedly ran into the bush, Afunenu had the businessman’s ATM card and two mobile phones with him.

Nwobodo reportedly became suspicious when messages were allegedly sent from Afunenu’s phone, claiming the staff was kidnapped.

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The messages demanded a ransom of ₦40m for his release, it was reported.

The development has raised concerns among security operatives who are now investigating whether the staff member was actually kidnapped or if the incident was linked to the earlier attack on the businessman.

According to the report, the police had begun a rescue operation for the abducted INEC staff and those behind the attacks.

“Extensive combing of surrounding bushes and intelligence-led tracking operations are ongoing to rescue the abducted victim and apprehend the perpetrators, the report said.

Security operatives are also probing the possibility that the two incidents are linked.

Investigators were trying to determine whether the attacks along the same road in a short period of time were perpetrated by the same criminal gang, the report added.

INEC has said that preparations for the August 15 governorship election in Osun State would not be affected by the attack on one of its Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection centres in the state.

The assurance was given by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Dayo Oketola, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, Naija News reports.

Suspected hoodlums on Sunday attacked officials and carted away electoral materials at the commission’s PVC collection centre at Oyinlola DC School, Ward 2, Okuku.

It was reported that the stolen items include Permanent Voter Cards and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS devices.

The commission, Oketola said, has reported the incident to the police, adding that investigation was already ongoing.