Gunmen Abduct Six Passengers, Including Three INEC Staff, En Route To Anambra For Governorship Election

Lokoja,  Kogi State– Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted six passengers, including three staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who were travelling to Anambra State ahead of the November 8 governorship election.

The incident occurred on Tuesday at Aloma, in Kogi State, where the victims were ambushed while travelling from Abuja to Awka in a Sienna minibus.

SaharaReporters reports that the abducted INEC officials were identified as Chinenye Orji, Adamaka Anih, and Catherine Temaugee.

According to the bus driver, who managed to escape, the kidnappers took over the highway, opened fire on the vehicle, and shattered the windshield before forcing the passengers into the bush.

He revealed in a recorded telephone conversation that all the passengers, including his wife, were abducted, except himself and an elderly woman who could not walk properly.

“The gunmen blocked the road and started shooting. They took everyone except me and one old woman who couldn’t walk well,” the driver said.

The elderly woman, who was also released, confirmed the account, explaining that the attack happened around 3 p.m. after they had departed Utako Motor Park in Abuja at about 9 a.m.

“We were in the same vehicle with them, going to Awka. The driver and myself were released. It happened a little after 3 p.m.,” she recounted.

“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.”

Meanwhile, sources informed SaharaReporters that the three INEC staff members were deployed to Anambra to print voters’ registers and other election materials ahead of the governorship election.

“Three INEC staff (all ladies) and others have been kidnapped at Aloma, Kogi State. Aloma is located near Benue State. They boarded a Sienna minibus from Utako this morning on official assignment to Anambra State for the forthcoming governorship election before this unfortunate issue happened.

“The incident happened this afternoon, Tuesday, October 21. The kidnappers took over the highway, shot at the car, and shattered the windscreen. Fortunately, the bullets didn’t touch the occupants.”

“The INEC Staff were said to have been deployed to Anambra for the printing of the voters’ register and other materials ahead of the governorship election scheduled for November 8,” the source said.

“The kidnappers took possession of all the occupants of the bus, including the wife of the driver and the driver himself.”

According to reports, only the driver and an elderly woman were released, while the other six passengers — including three INEC staff members and the driver’s wife — were taken into the forest by the abductors.

Although the incident has been reported to the police, the kidnappers have yet to make any contact or demand. Authorities say an investigation is underway.

The abduction underscores the rising insecurity across Nigeria, especially along highways where kidnappers and bandits frequently target travellers and commercial vehicles.