Gunmen Abduct INEC Staff in Anambra, Demand N40m Ransom in Dual Attacks

Suspected gunmen have abducted an employee of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra State and demanded a N40 million ransom for her release, in an incident that has heightened security concerns along the Ebenebe axis of Awka North Local Government Area. The victim, identified as Christy Nkiru Okeke, was abducted at about 7:00 p.m. on July 24, with her husband later reporting the incident to the B Division Police Headquarters in Awka after the kidnappers contacted the family and demanded N40 million for her release. Security analyst Zagazola Makama first reported the abduction, noting that the circumstances surrounding her disappearance were not immediately clear, as the area has witnessed a series of security incidents in recent months that have left residents on edge.

The abduction occurred roughly an hour after a separate violent attack on the same road, raising questions about whether both incidents were carried out by the same criminal gang operating within the axis. A businessman identified as Emmanuel Nwobodo was returning home from Oba Ofemili at approximately 5:45 p.m. when four armed men, dressed in dark clothing, opened fire on his Mercedes-Benz near Ebenebe Community Secondary School. Despite coming under heavy gunfire, Nwobodo managed to drive away from the scene before discovering he had sustained a gunshot wound to his left knee. His vehicle also suffered visible damage, with bullets reportedly affecting the radiator and the rear seat belt guard. He later stopped near a Catholic Church a few kilometres away, where he realised the extent of his injuries and was taken for medical attention, while security operatives commenced preliminary investigations into the attack.

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During the attack, one of Nwobodo’s employees, Tochukwu Afunenu, who was travelling with him and carrying his employer’s ATM card and two mobile phones, reportedly jumped out of the vehicle and fled into a nearby bush. However, the situation took a suspicious turn when voice messages were allegedly sent from Afunenu’s phone claiming that he had been kidnapped and demanding a N40 million ransom. The messages reportedly raised suspicion among investigators, who are now examining the circumstances surrounding the claim to determine whether they genuinely originated from a kidnapping situation or formed part of a broader criminal plot connected to the attack. Security sources said efforts are ongoing to establish the authenticity of the messages, with the possibility that Afunenu may have staged his own disappearance or that his phone fell into the hands of the same criminal gang responsible for the earlier attacks.

Security operatives have since launched extensive operations to rescue the abducted INEC worker and apprehend those responsible for both attacks, with police authorities intensifying operations across the area. Personnel from the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Rapid Response Squad and other tactical teams have been deployed to the area, with extensive combing of surrounding bushes and remote locations while intelligence units continue tracking possible leads. A senior police source stated that authorities would not rest until the victim is safely recovered and the perpetrators face justice, while security operatives have also appealed to members of the public with useful information to come forward and assist ongoing investigations. Investigators are working to establish whether the two attacks, which occurred along the same road within a short period, were carried out by the same criminal gang, with authorities believing the coordinated nature of the attacks suggests a well-organised criminal network operating within the axis. Residents of Awka North have expressed growing unease about the frequency of such attacks along the corridor, urging stronger patrols, community vigilance and increased security presence along major roads linking communities within the local government.

Related Incident in Osun State

The abduction comes barely days after armed hoodlums attacked an INEC Permanent Voter Card (PVC) distribution centre in Osun State, carting away electoral materials in a separate incident that has raised concerns about the safety of electoral personnel and materials ahead of the upcoming governorship election. The incident occurred at Oyinlola DC Primary School in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area, where INEC officials were distributing PVCs ahead of the August 15 governorship election. According to police reports, about 10 suspected thugs stormed the distribution centre, fired several gunshots into the air, forced electoral officials to flee, and escaped with three packs of Permanent Voter Cards, leaving INEC officials and residents in shock.

The Osun State Police Command confirmed the attack, stating that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had condemned the incident and ordered a comprehensive investigation. “Tactical and intelligence assets have been deployed, and efforts have been intensified to apprehend the perpetrators and recover the stolen PVCs,” the police spokesperson said, assuring residents that the command was committed to ensuring the security of electoral processes in the state. INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Dayo Oketola, confirmed that the Osun incident had been formally reported to the police and assured that it would not derail preparations for the governorship election. He also stated that a total of 4,427 BVAS devices had been configured for the election, including 664 backup units, which could handle any incidents before and during the poll, thereby ensuring that the election would proceed as scheduled despite the setback.

Gunmen Abduct INEC Staff in Anambra, Demand N40m Ransom in Dual Attacks