The kidnappers of six Independent National Election Commission (INEC) officials in Kogi State demanded 50 million nairas before releasing the kidnapping victims.
As reported by DailyPost, several INEC employees were abducted from Obajana in the early hours of Sunday, March 19, 2023, during the Kogi State Assembly elections.
The victims were returning from North and South Kupa under the Lokoja Local Government in Kogi State when they were attacked by armed thugs.
Kogi State Police (PPRO) public relations officer, SP William Ovye Aya, said in a statement to reporters about the incident that 96 people were rescued by police, three were injured and two were injured. has not yet been found.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday on behalf of the family of the Lokoja kidnapping victim, Vice President II, (APO II) during the March 18 election for the Kogi House of Representatives was identified as Babalola Oluwatobi Peter said his sister, who was among those abducted, is still in custody. Peter questioned the Nigerian police’s claim that all the kidnapping victims had been rescued.
He mentioned those still in the hands of the kidnappers such as Muhammed Maimunat and Abdulrahman Raji, two active members of the Corps.
According to Peter, the special INEC officers still in custody are Oyaniran Atinuke Ruth, Florence Shayo Ajayi, Opara Tina, and Blessing.
Explaining the ugly incident that happened that day, Peter said
“We were coming from Kupa North and South for the Kogi State House of Assembly election. I worked in the North, so we left the North some minutes past six and we got to the South at 8:03 pm, we were asked to move to Lokoja by our SPOs. I told them personally that we are not going, that they should allow us to sleep, and that by 4 am the next day, we should pick up and go just like the way we did during the Presidential election.
“But the SPO South said he wants to move. As an APO two, I cannot just tell them that no. All other Corp members told them to let us sleep over but they insisted no. But when they insisted, we had no option but to move. When we got to Obajana, the armed robbers attacked us. We had six vehicles, and our vehicles happen to be the second one.
“The first vehicle was able to move while the second vehicle mistakenly hit the culvert and could not move again. But before we could know what was happening, the third vehicle hit us in the back. We have three Police Officers, only one was armed. When the armed robber attacked us, the armed Police officer instructed us to pull off our white and run for our dear lives. After everyone was running for their life, I discovered that I didn’t see my sister Oyaniran Atinuke Ruth.
“The incident happened between 1 am-2 am. Those people that were kidnapped were directly from our bus. We told the security agency including INEC that we are still looking for six people including my sister. They said we should not worry that we will find them. Up till now, nothing has been done. I was shocked when I read in some newspapers that the kidnapped victims have been rescued. Nothing of such. The kidnappers contacted us recently, demanding N50 million ransom.
“The kidnappers keep calling us with different numbers. You cannot call them, but they can only call you. They even told us to send them a recharge card which we did just because we don’t want them to hurt my sister and every other victim in their custody.
He, however, called on the Government and security to work towards the release of the abducted victims.
The husband of one of the kidnapped victims Olawafemi Olakanmi said he last spoke to his wife (Florence Shayo Ajayi) around midnight before the incident occurred. “I have not slept since my wife was kidnapped on 19th March 2023. I only call on God to set my wife free” he stated.
All efforts to speak with the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) in Kogi State SP William Ovye Aya proved abortive as at the time of filing this report on Monday. He failed to pick up calls or respond to text messages sent to his phone lines.
