Gunmen Abduct Three INEC Staff, Six Others in Kogi

At least three staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were among nine passengers abducted by gunmen at Amuna Ochikala, in the Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The incident, which occurred around 3pm on Tuesday, involved a Sienna bus conveying passengers from Utako Park, Abuja, to Anambra State, before it was ambushed by armed men a few kilometres to Aloma town on the highway.

The abducted INEC staff were identified as Chinenye Oji, Adamaka Anih, and Catherine Temaugee.

According to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, the officials were on an official assignment in connection with preparations for the upcoming Kogi governorship election scheduled for the first week of November.

“The INEC staff were deployed to Anambra for printing of voters’ registers and other materials ahead of the governorship election,” the source revealed.

Eyewitness accounts indicated that the kidnappers seized all occupants of the bus, including the driver’s wife, after shooting at the vehicle’s windscreen.

The driver, who later regained freedom, narrated his ordeal in a voice note sent to one of the victim’s families.

“Our vehicle came under fire in Aloma by gunmen, shattering its windscreen. Nobody was injured during the attack,” he said.

“When we stopped, the hoodlums took everyone away into the bush, including my wife. They didn’t take anything from us.”

The driver said he was released alongside an elderly woman, who the abductors considered too weak to continue the journey into the forest.

“They asked me to take the old woman back to the road after she identified me as the driver,” he added.

Reports from the area on Thursday morning indicated that local vigilantes and hunters mobilised shortly after the attack and succeeded in rescuing four of the kidnapped victims following an exchange of gunfire with the abductors.

“The vigilante and hunters in the community were mobilised to the bush shortly after the incident,” said Ajeka Oduma, a resident of Aloma community.

“We were informed this morning that four of the abducted victims have been rescued after a gun battle in the forest.”

However, the Kogi State Police Command has not issued any official statement regarding the incident as of the time of filing this report.

The abduction adds to growing security concerns in Kogi State as it prepares for its November governorship election, with authorities yet to confirm whether the remaining victims have been rescued.