Gunmen have reportedly kidnapped a staff member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra State, with the abductors allegedly demanding a ₦40 million ransom for her release.
According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication, the victim, Christy Nkiru, an employee of INEC and resident of Ngozika Estate, was abducted on Friday, July 24, along the Ebenebe axis of Awka North Local Government Area.
Her husband, Okeke Victor, reportedly informed the police about the incident, after which security operatives launched efforts to rescue her.
The publication said the kidnappers later contacted the family and demanded ₦40 million as ransom.
Following the incident, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and other tactical teams were deployed to the area to track down the suspects and secure the victim’s release.
Businessman Survives Separate Gun Attack
In a related incident on the same road, a businessman, Emmanuel Nwobodo, reportedly escaped an attack by armed men but sustained a gunshot wound.
According to police sources quoted by Zagazola Makama, Nwobodo reported that he was driving home from Oba Ofemili 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, he managed to drive away before stopping a few kilometres from the scene near a Catholic church, where he discovered he had been shot in the left knee.
During the attack, his staff member, Tochukwu Afunenu, who was carrying the victim’s ATM card and two mobile phones, reportedly jumped out of the vehicle 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 ₦40 million as ransom.
Police have since commenced extensive search operations in the surrounding bushes and are carrying out intelligence-led investigations to rescue the abducted victim and arrest those responsible.
