Gunmen have reportedly abducted three staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and six other passengers at Amuna Ochikala in Ofu Local Government Area in Kogi state.
The incident occurred Wednesday, when hoodlums’ ambushed the vehicle carrying the passengers a few kilometers to Aloma town on the highway.
The Sienna Bus, was said to have loaded passengers from Utako park in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory in the morning was on its way to Anambra state , but had its journey cut short at Aloma community in the state because of the sad unexpected incident.
The three staff of INEC , identified as Chinenye oji Adamaka Anih and Catherine Temaugee were said to be going for an official assignment to Anambra State to prepare ground for the upcoming Governorship election in the state.
- Keyamo Orders Airlines to Prioritise Military Personnel During Boarding
- Tight Security Around Presidential Villa as Abuja Locks Down Over Nnamdi Kanu Protes
“The INEC Staff were deployed to Anambra for printing of voters register and other materials ahead of the guber election scheduled for the first week of November”, said a source who craved to speak under anonymity.
Eyewitnesses told daily trust that the kidnappers took possession of all the occupants of the bus, including the wife of the driver, stressing that the driver was later released with an old weak woman by the kidnappers on the ground of her poor health condition.
The driver of the ill fated bus in a voice call to a victim’s family said the hoodlums’ shot at their vehicle while in motion around Aloma community in Kogi state, chattering its wind screen.
He added that no passenger was hurt , nor injured in the shooting spree that ensued .
“Right now, I am at a police station in Aloma, making an entry . Our vehicle came under fire in Aloma by gunmen, chattering its windscreen. Nobody was injured in the process of the attack.
” On stopping, the hoodlums took all the occupants in the vehicle away to the bush, including my wife . They did not take anything from us.
“While on our way going into the bush, they spotted an elderly woman who was obviously weak to continue the journey. I was released to take her back by our abductors to the road ,when she identified me as the driver of the vehicle on their request”, he said .
However, a report from the area on Thursday morning noted that vigilantes and hunters had succeeded in rescuing four of the kidnapped victims when they trailed and confronted their abductors in their hideout in the bush .
Ajeka Oduma, a resident of Aloma community, said, “The vigilante and hunters in the community were mobilized to the bush ,shortly after the incident. We noted this morning that four of the abducted victims have been rescued after an exchange of gunfire with their abductors in the forest of the community in the night.”
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Kogi state police Command, SP William Aya did not pick his call or respond to text messages in respect of the incident .
