Gunmen abduct INEC staff in Anambra, shoot businessman, demand N40m

n n

Stock image

n

Gunmen have abducted an employee of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and demanded a N40 million ransom after carrying out separate attacks along the Ebenebe axis of Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

n

The incident was reported by security analyst, Zagazola Makama.

n

According to the report, Christy Nkiru Okeke, an INEC employee, was abducted at about 7:00pm on July 24.

n

Her husband later reported the incident to the B Division Police Headquarters in Awka after the kidnappers contacted the family and demanded N40 million for her release.

n

Makama also reported that about an hour earlier, a businessman, Emmanuel Nwobodo, escaped a similar attack near Ebenebe Community Secondary School after four armed men, dressed in dark clothing, allegedly opened fire on his Mercedes-Benz while he was returning home from Oba.

n

The report said Nwobodo managed to drive away from the scene before discovering he had sustained a gunshot wound to his left knee, while his vehicle suffered damage to the radiator and rear seat belt guard.

n

According to the report, one of his staff members, Tochukwu Afunenu, fled into a nearby bush during the attack while carrying the businessman’s ATM card and two mobile phones.

n

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.

n

“Police said extensive combing of surrounding bushes and intelligence-led tracking operations are ongoing to rescue the abducted victim and apprehend the perpetrators,” the report stated.

n

The report added that investigators are trying to establish whether both attacks, which occurred along the same road within a short period, were carried out by the same criminal gang.

n n