Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted six passengers, including three officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who were on their way to Anambra State ahead of the November 8 governorship election.
The victims, identified as Chinenye Orji, Adamaka Anih, and Catherine Temaugee, were travelling from Abuja to Awka when they were ambushed at Aloma, Kogi State, on Tuesday.
According to reports obtained by SaharaReporters, the gunmen opened fire on the Sienna minibus conveying the INEC staff and other passengers, shattering the windshield before forcing the vehicle to stop.
The driver of the vehicle, who managed to escape along with an elderly woman, said all other passengers—including his wife—were taken into the bush.
“The kidnappers took over the highway, shot at our bus, and shattered the windscreen. They took everyone, including my wife, except me and one elderly woman who could not walk properly,” the driver said in a recorded phone conversation.
The elderly woman, who was also released, recounted that the attack occurred around 3 p.m. after they left Abuja’s Utako motor park earlier that morning.
“We were in the same vehicle going to Awka. The driver and I were released. It happened shortly after 3 p.m. We had stopped briefly in Lokoja to eat before continuing the journey,” she said.
Sources confirmed that the abducted INEC officials were assigned to Anambra for the printing of voters’ registers and other election materials in preparation for the governorship poll.
“Three INEC staff—all women—were kidnapped at Aloma, Kogi State. They were travelling on official assignment to Anambra for the upcoming election when the incident happened,” a source told SaharaReporters.
The driver and the elderly woman were reportedly freed, while six others, including the INEC staff and the driver’s wife, remain in captivity.
Although the incident has been reported to the police, no ransom demand has yet been made as investigations continue.
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