Gunmen have allegedly abducted an employee of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Christy Nkiru Okeke, in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, with the kidnappers reportedly demanding a ₦40 million ransom for her release.
The incident reportedly occurred around 7:00 p.m. on July 24 along the Ebenebe axis. According to security reports, the victim’s husband later reported the abduction to the B Division Police Headquarters in Awka after the kidnappers contacted the family with their ransom demand.
In a separate incident along the same route about an hour earlier, a businessman, Emmanuel Nwobodo, reportedly escaped an armed attack near Ebenebe Community Secondary School.
The assailants, said to be four armed men dressed in dark clothing, allegedly opened fire on his Mercedes-Benz vehicle as he was returning home from Oba.
Despite sustaining a gunshot injury to his left knee, the businessman reportedly managed to drive away from the scene. His vehicle, however, sustained damage during the attack.
According to the report, one of his staff members, Tochukwu Afunenu, fled into a nearby bush during the incident while carrying the businessman’s ATM card and two mobile phones.
The businessman later became suspicious after voice messages allegedly sent from the staff member’s phone claimed he had also been kidnapped and demanded a ₦40 million ransom.
Security sources said police have commenced intensive search operations and intelligence-led investigations 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 within a short interval along the same road, were carried out by the same criminal gang.
