Gunmen Kidnap Three INEC Staff In Kogi While Traveling To Anambra For Governorship Election

Gunmen have reportedly kidnapped three staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja, along with several others, in Aloma, a community in Kogi State close to the Benue border.

The victims, all women identified as Chinenye Oji, Adamaka Anih, and Catherine Temaugee, were said to be on official duty to Anambra State ahead of the November 8 governorship election when they were abducted.

It was gathered that they were traveling with other passengers, including the driver’s wife, when the attack happened around 3 p.m. along the Aloma highway.

According to Premium Times, a relative of one of the kidnapped women said that the victims left Abuja on Tuesday morning in a Sienna bus they boarded from the Utako motor park.

“The victims had boarded a Sienna bus from Utako, Abuja, early Tuesday morning, heading to Anambra for pre-election duties, including the printing of the voters’ register and other preparatory materials for the election scheduled for the first week of November,” he said.

According to the source, the kidnappers ambushed the vehicle, shooting several times and shattering the windscreen.

Though none of the passengers was hit, the gunfire forced the driver to stop, and the gunmen then took everyone into the nearby forest.

An elderly woman with a leg problem was later released, as was the driver, who was asked to help her return to the nearest town.

As of the time of filing this report, the location of the kidnapped INEC officials and the other victims remains unknown.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Kogi State Police Command, William Aya, said he had not received any report on the case but promised to check with the Divisional Police Officer in the area.

“I haven’t gotten any information on that for now. I’ll call the DPO in that area to confirm what actually happened,” Mr Aya said.

Efforts to reach INEC’s spokesperson, Samuel Olumekun, were also unsuccessful, as he did not answer calls or respond to text messages.

Aloma, located in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, has seen several kidnapping incidents in recent months, especially along the Ajaokuta–Otukpo highway, a route known for repeated security attacks.

KanyiDaily had also reported how gunmen kidnapped the wife and daughter of Alhaji Muhammad Swasun, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.