Gunmen have abducted an employee of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra State and demanded a ₦40 million ransom after carrying out separate attacks along the Ebenebe axis of Awka North Local Government Area.
The incidents reportedly occurred on Thursday, July 24, 2026, according to security analyst Zagazola Makama.
The report identified the abducted INEC employee as Christy Nkiru Okeke, who was allegedly kidnapped at about 7:00 p.m.
Her husband later reported the incident to the B Division Police Headquarters in Awka after the abductors contacted the family and demanded ₦40 million for her release.
In a separate attack about an hour earlier, a businessman, Emmanuel Nwobodo, reportedly escaped an attempted abduction near Ebenebe Community Secondary School after four armed men, dressed in dark clothing, allegedly opened fire on his Mercedes Benz while he was returning home from Oba.
According to the report, Nwobodo managed to drive away from the scene before discovering that he had sustained a gunshot wound to his left knee. His vehicle also suffered damage to the radiator and rear seat belt guard.
The report further stated that one of the businessman’s staff members, Tochukwu Afunenu, fled into a nearby bush during the attack while carrying Nwobodo’s ATM card and two mobile phones.
Nwobodo later became suspicious after voice messages were allegedly sent from the staff member’s phone claiming he had been kidnapped and demanding a ₦40 million ransom.
According to the report, police have launched extensive combing operations in surrounding bushes and commenced intelligence led tracking to rescue the abducted INEC employee and apprehend those responsible for the attacks.
Investigators are also working to determine whether the two incidents, which occurred along the same road within a short period, were carried out by the same criminal gang.
