Gunmen abduct INEC staff in Anambra, demand ₦40m ransom

Gunmen have reportedly abducted a staff member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Ebenebe area of Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, with the kidnappers allegedly demanding a ₦40 million ransom for her release.

According to counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the victim, identified as Christy Nkiru, was abducted on Friday, July 24.

The publication reported that her husband, Okeke Victor, a resident of Ngozika Estate, later informed the police that his wife, who works with INEC, had been kidnapped.

According to the report, the abductors subsequently contacted the family and demanded ₦40 million as ransom before she could regain her freedom.

Following the incident, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and other tactical police teams were deployed to the area to commence rescue operations and track down the perpetrators.

In a related development, a businessman narrowly escaped being abducted along the same road after surviving a gun attack on the same day.

Citing police sources, Zagazola Makama reported that the incident was reported at the B Division Police Headquarters in Awka on July 25.

The businessman, Emmanuel Nwobodo, a resident of Nibo, reportedly told police that he was returning home from Oba Ofemili in Awka North Local Government Area at about 5:45 p.m. on July 24 when four armed men dressed in dark clothing opened fire on his Mercedes-Benz E-Class near Ebenebe Community Secondary School.

Despite the attack, Nwobodo reportedly drove through the gunfire and managed to stop a few kilometres away near a Catholic church, where he discovered that he had sustained a gunshot wound to his left knee.

According to the publication, Nwobodo’s staff member, Tochukwu Afunenu, who was in possession of his employer’s ATM card and two mobile phones, reportedly jumped out of the vehicle during the attack and fled into a nearby bush.

The businessman later became suspicious after voice messages were allegedly sent from his staff’s phone claiming he had been kidnapped and demanding a ₦40 million ransom.

Police have since launched extensive bush-combing operations and intelligence-led tracking efforts aimed at rescuing the abducted INEC staff member and apprehending those behind both incidents..

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