Kidnappers Demand N50 Million Sum For INEC Staff Abducted In Kogi

EKO HOT BLOG reports that 6 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who were abducted in Kogi State during the House of Assembly election on March 19, 2023, are still in captivity, according to Babalola Oluwatobi Peter, an Assistant Presiding Officer II.

Peter addressed a press conference on behalf of the families of the kidnapped victims in Lokoja on Monday, March 27, 2023.

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Peter identified his sister, Oyaniran Atinuke Ruth, as one of the victims still held by the kidnappers. He faulted the claim by the Nigeria Police Force that all the kidnapped victims had been rescued.

According to him, Muhammed Maimunat and Abdulrahman Raji, two serving Corps members, and INEC Ad-Hoc staff members Oyaniran Atinuke Ruth, Florence Shayo Ajayi, Opara Tina, and Blessing, are still in captivity.

Peter explained that the incident occurred while they were returning from Kupa North and South, where they worked during the election. They were asked to move to Lokoja by their SPOs, but Peter objected, saying they should be allowed to sleep over and continue the journey the next morning. However, the SPO South insisted that they left immediately.

It was on their way that they were stormed on by armed hoodlums who attacked them at Obajana.

Peter stated that they had six vehicles, and their vehicles happened to be the second one. The first vehicle was able to move, but the second vehicle hit a culvert and could not move again. Before they could know what was happening, the third vehicle hit them in the back.

They had three police officers, but only one was armed. When the armed robbers attacked them, the armed police officer instructed them to pull off their white and run for their lives. After everyone was running for their life, Peter discovered that his sister, Oyaniran Atinuke Ruth, was missing.

The incident happened between 1 am and 2 am. Those who were kidnapped were directly from their bus. They reported the incident to the security agencies, including INEC, but nothing has been done.

Peter was shocked when he read in some newspapers that the kidnapped victims had been rescued. He said that the kidnappers had contacted them recently, demanding N50 million ransom.

The kidnappers have been calling them with different numbers. The victims cannot call them, but they can only call the victims. The kidnappers even told them to send them a recharge card, which they did just because they didn’t want them to hurt his sister and every other victim in their custody.

The husband of one of the kidnapped victims, Olawafemi Olakanmi, said he last spoke to his wife, Florence Shayo Ajayi, around 12 am before the incident occurred. He hasn’t slept since his wife was kidnapped and called on God to set his wife free.

The family members of the kidnapped victims called on the government and security agencies to work towards the release of the abducted victims.

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All efforts to speak with the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Kogi State, SP William Ovye Aya, proved abortive as he failed to pick calls or respond to text messages sent to his phone lines.