Gunmen abduct INEC staff in Anambra, shoot businessman, demand N40m
Gunmen Abduct INEC Employee, Demand Ransom in Anambra State
Anambra State authorities are investigating the abduction of Christy Nkiru Okeke, an employee of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who was taken by armed assailants on July 24. The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of 40 million naira.
The incident occurred around 7 p.m. in the Ebenebe area of Awka North Local Government. Following the abduction, Okeke’s husband reported the incident to the B Division Police Headquarters in Awka after the kidnappers contacted the family.
In a separate attack approximately an hour earlier, businessman Emmanuel Nwobodo escaped an attempted kidnapping near Ebenebe Community Secondary School. Four armed men, dressed in dark clothing, reportedly fired on his vehicle as he returned home from Oba. Nwobodo managed to drive away despite sustaining a gunshot wound to his left knee and damage to his vehicle.
A staff member, Tochukwu Afunenu, fled into nearby bushes during the attack, taking with him Nwobodo’s ATM card and two mobile phones. Nwobodo later grew concerned when voice messages allegedly sent from Afunenu’s phone claimed he had been kidnapped and also demanded a ransom of 40 million naira.
Authorities are conducting extensive searches of surrounding areas and utilizing intelligence-led tracking operations to secure Okeke’s release and apprehend the suspects. Investigators are also working to determine if the two attacks were carried out by the same group of criminals.
