Gunmen have abducted an employee of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), identified as Christy Nkiru Okeke, and demanded a N40 million ransom following separate attacks along the Ebenebe axis of Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The incidents were disclosed by security analyst Zagazola Makama.
According to the report, Okeke was abducted at about 7:00 p.m. on July 24 while travelling along the route.
Her husband subsequently reported the incident at the B Division Police Headquarters in Awka after the kidnappers contacted the family and demanded N40 million for her release.
Makama also revealed that about an hour before the abduction, a businessman, Emmanuel Nwobodo, narrowly escaped a similar attack near Ebenebe Community Secondary School.
The businessman was said to be returning home from Oba in his Mercedes-Benz when four armed men dressed in dark clothing allegedly opened fire on his vehicle.
Despite the attack, Nwobodo managed to drive away before discovering that he had sustained a gunshot wound to his left knee. His vehicle also suffered damage to its radiator and rear seat belt guard.
During the attack, one of his staff members, Tochukwu Afunenu, reportedly fled into a nearby bush while carrying the businessman’s ATM card and two mobile phones.
The report added that Nwobodo later became suspicious after voice messages were allegedly sent from the staff member’s phone claiming he had been kidnapped and demanding a N40 million ransom.
According to Makama, police have launched extensive bush-combing and intelligence-led tracking operations to rescue the abducted INEC employee and apprehend those responsible for the attacks.
Investigators are also working to determine whether the two incidents, which occurred along the same road within a short period, were carried out by the same criminal gang.
