Olushola Omogbehin
Gunmen have abducted six passengers, including three staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who were going to Anambra State for the November 8 governorship election.
The three INEC officials, known as Chinenye Orji, Adamaka Anih, and Catherine Temaugee with other victims who are all women, were reportedly travelling from Utako, Abuja, to Anambra State on an official assignment when their vehicle, a Toyota Sienna, was ambushed by armed men at Aloma, a town in Kogi State close to the Benue State border.
The incident was said to occurred shortly after 3 p.m. when the kidnappers opened fire on the vehicle, shattering its windscreen. Fortunately, none of the occupants was hit by the bullets.
The abducted INEC staff were said to be on their way to Anambra in preparations for the upcoming governorship election slated for November 8.
The driver later recounted that the kidnappers freed him and an elderly woman in the vehicle after realising she had mobility issues.
According to the woman who was released by the kidnappers, “We were in the same vehicle with them, going to Awka. The driver and myself were released. It happened a little after 3pm. We left the motor park at 9 am from Utako.”
“We stayed briefly at Lokoja to eat. We took Anambra Comfort Line. The kidnappers have taken people custody, later they will contact their people. We went to Aloma Police Station. It happened a little after Aloma.”
