Gunmen have reportedly abducted an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff member in the Ebenebe axis of Awka North Local Government Area, Anambra State.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, Ngozika estate resident Okeke Victor told police his wife, Christy Nkiru, an INEC employee, was abducted on Friday, July 24.

The publication said the kidnappers reportedly demanded a ₦40 million ransom for her release.

Makama said operatives of the anti-kidnapping unit, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and other tactical teams have been deployed to the area, with the incident reported at the B Division police headquarters in Awka on July 25.

Businessman Escapes Separate Attack on Same Road

The publication also reported a separate attack on the same road the same day, in which a businessman narrowly escaped after sustaining a gunshot wound.

According to Makama, Nibo resident Emmanuel Nwobodo was driving home in his Mercedes-Benz E-Class at about 5:45 p.m. on July 24 when four armed men in dark outfits opened fire on his vehicle near Ebenebe Community Secondary School.

Nwobodo reportedly drove through the gunfire and stopped near a Catholic church a few kilometres away, where he discovered a gunshot wound to his left knee.

“During the attack, his staff, Tochukwu Afunenu, 40, who was in possession of the victim’s ATM card and two mobile phones, reportedly jumped out of the vehicle and fled into a nearby bush,” Makama said.

Nwobodo reportedly grew suspicious after voice messages allegedly sent from his staff’s phone claimed the staff member had been kidnapped and demanded a ₦40 million ransom, matching the same figure demanded in the INEC staffer’s case.

According to Makama, police have commenced an extensive search of surrounding bushes and intelligence-led tracking operations to rescue the abducted victim and apprehend those responsible for both incidents.