Kidnappers have reportedly killed Hon. Rosemary Adukwu, the councillor representing Ogugu Ward III in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, days after abducting her while she was travelling to Onitsha market.
Adukwu was reportedly abducted on September 30, 2026, when armed men intercepted the commercial vehicle she boarded around the Oji River axis, near the boundary between Enugu and Anambra states.
The assailants allegedly dragged her out of the vehicle and took her to an unknown destination in the forest, leaving the other passengers unharmed.
The Chairman of Olamaboro Local Government Area, Dr. Ameh Williams, announced her death in a statement issued on Friday, expressing sadness over the loss of the councillor.
The statement described Adukwu as a respected member of the eighth Olamaboro Legislative Council.
According to the chairman, her death was confirmed on Thursday while she was still in captivity.
The circumstances surrounding her abduction and death have, however, raised concerns among her family members, who alleged that the kidnappers singled her out and did not contact them to demand a ransom before her death was announced.
A family source disclosed that Adukwu regularly travelled to Onitsha to restock her business and had used the same driver’s vehicle on previous occasions.
The source explained that she departed for Onitsha after confirming with her regular driver that the market would operate on October 1.
According to the source, the vehicle encountered a barricade mounted by suspected kidnappers around Oji River, where Adukwu was allegedly taken away while the other passengers were allowed to continue their journey.
The source added that the family became worried after the kidnappers failed to make contact for almost a week, prompting them to seek assistance from security operatives to track her cellphone.
The family reportedly learnt of her death when someone who answered a call to the phone disclosed that its owner was dead.
The source further revealed that the vehicle’s driver and the individual who received the call to Adukwu’s cellphone had been arrested and were assisting security operatives with investigations.
Meanwhile, the President-General of the Ogugu District Union, Deacon Samuel Ige Agada, alongside the union’s National Executive, condemned the abduction and killing, describing the incident as barbaric.
Agada described the deceased as a dedicated grassroots leader, hardworking businesswoman, and devoted mother and wife who was working to provide for her family.
He said her death was a painful loss to her family, Ogugu Ward III, UBELE District, Ogugu Chiefdom, Olamaboro Local Government Area, and Kogi State.
The union called for an end to such acts of violence, expressing grief over the tragic incident.
Adukwu was reportedly buried at about 1 p.m. on Friday at her family compound in Ogugu Centre.
