Three staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and six other passengers have been abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers along the Aloma axis of Kogi State.
The victims — identified as Chinenye Orji, Adamaka Anih, and Catherine Temaugee — were said to be on official assignment to Anambra State ahead of the November 8 governorship election when the incident occurred on Tuesday.
Reliable sources told Raye24news Online that the INEC officials were deployed to print voters’ registers and other sensitive materials for the upcoming poll.
According to the driver of the Sienna minibus conveying the victims, the attackers opened fire on the vehicle, shattering its windscreen before whisking all passengers into the nearby bush.
He explained that he and an elderly woman with mobility challenges were later released.
“We were in the same vehicle going to Awka,” the woman confirmed. “The driver and I were freed. It happened a little after 3 p.m. We left Utako around 9 a.m. and stopped briefly at Lokoja to eat. The kidnappers took the others into the bush, and we later reported the matter at the Aloma Police Station.”
It was gathered that the gunmen made away with six passengers, including the three INEC officials and the driver’s wife, leaving only the driver and the elderly woman behind.
A source close to the commission said:
“Three INEC staff (all ladies) and others have been kidnapped at Aloma, Kogi State. They boarded a Sienna minibus from Utako this morning on official assignment to Anambra before this unfortunate incident.”
Security sources confirmed that the matter has been reported to the police, and efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the abducted victims.
