An Independent National Electoral Commission employee has been kidnapped in Anambra State, with attackers demanding a ransom of N40 million. The incident occurred near the Ebenebe area of Awka North Local Government Area, as detailed by security analyst Zagazola Makama. Christy Nkiru Okeke was abducted on the evening of July 24 at approximately 7:00pm. Her spouse alerted the B Division Police Headquarters in Awka following a ransom demand from the captors.
Roughly one hour prior to the abduction, a businessman named Emmanuel Nwobodo was targeted near the Ebenebe Community Secondary School. Four individuals wearing dark attire fired shots at his Mercedes-Benz as he traveled home from Oba. Although Nwobodo fled the scene, he suffered a gunshot wound to his left knee and his vehicle sustained mechanical damage. An employee traveling with him, Tochukwu Afunenu, escaped into the brush with the businessman’s mobile devices and bank card. Subsequent messages sent from Afunenu’s phone claimed he had been abducted and demanded a N40 million ransom, raising suspicion from Nwobodo regarding the authenticity of the claim.
Law enforcement officials are currently searching the area and employing tracking techniques to locate the victim and identify the gunmen. Investigators are also probing whether a single criminal group is responsible for both incidents.
