Gunmen have abducted an employee of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and demanded a ₦40 million ransom following coordinated attacks in Anambra State.
The incidents occurred on July 24 along the Ebenebe axis of Awka North Local Government Area, according to security analyst Zagazola Makama.
The abducted victim, Christy Nkiru Okeke, was reportedly taken at about 7:00 p.m. Her husband later reported the case to the B Division Police Headquarters in Awka after the kidnappers contacted the family with a ransom demand.
Earlier that evening, a businessman, Emmanuel Nwobodo, survived an attack near Ebenebe Community Secondary School. Four armed men, dressed in dark clothing, allegedly opened fire on his vehicle as he was returning home from Oba.
Nwobodo managed to escape but later discovered he had been shot in the left knee. His vehicle also sustained damage.
During the attack, one of his staff members, Tochukwu Afunenu, fled into nearby bushes with the businessman’s ATM card and two mobile phones. Suspicion arose after voice messages were later sent from the staff member’s phone claiming he had been kidnapped and demanding ₦40 million.
Police say search operations and intelligence tracking are ongoing to rescue the abducted INEC staff and apprehend those responsible. Authorities are also investigating whether both attacks were carried out by the same group.
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