Gunmen Abduct ‘INEC Official’ In Anambra, Demand N40m Ransom
Gunmen have reportedly abducted a staff member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Ebenebe axis of Awka north LGA of Anambra state.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, Okeke Victor, reported that a resident of Ngozika estate, informed police that his wife, Christy Nkiru, an employee of the INEC, was abducted on Friday, July 24.
The publication said the kidnappers reportedly demanded a ransom of N40 million for her release.
Makama said operatives of the anti-kidnapping unit, the rapid response squad (RRS) and other tactical teams were deployed to the area.
The publication also said a businessman narrowly escaped a separate attack on the same road after sustaining a gunshot wound the same day.
Quoting police sources, Makama said the incidents were reported at the B division police headquarters in Awka, the state capital, on July 25.
According to the publication, Emmanuel Nwobodo from Nibo reported that at about 5:45 pm on July 24, he was driving home from Oba Ofemili in Awka north LGA in his Mercedes-Benz E-Class saloon car when four armed men dressed in dark outfits opened fire on his vehicle near Ebenebe Community Secondary School.
Makama said Nwobodo drove through the attackers despite the gunfire and stopped a few kilometres away near a Catholic church and discovered he had suffered a gunshot wound to his left knee.
“During the attack, his staff, Tochukwu Afunenu, 40, who was in possession of the victim’s ATM card and two mobile phones, reportedly jumped out of the vehicle and fled into a nearby bush,” Makama added.
It said Nwobodo became suspicious after voice messages were allegedly sent from his staff’s phone claiming that he had been kidnapped and demanding a ransom of N40 million.
According to Makama, police have commenced an extensive combing of surrounding bushes and intelligence-led tracking operations to rescue the abducted victim and apprehend the perpetrators.