Kidnappers demand N50m for abducted INEC officials, as family members cry for help in Kogi

 

Abductors of six Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Officials, in Kogi State have demanded for N50Million before they would release their kidnap victims.

It could recalled that, some INEC staff were abducted in Obajana at the early hours of Sunday, 19th March 2023 during the Kogi State House of Assembly election.

The victims were said to be returning from Kupa North and South under Lokoja Local Government Area in Kogi State before they were attacked by armed hoodlums.

But the Police Public Relation Officer, (PPRO) in Kogi State SP William Ovye Aya had in a statement issued to journalists concerning the incident said 96 persons were rescued by the Police, three injured while two victims were yet to be accounted for.

Addressing a press conference on Monday on behalf of the kidnapped family victims in Lokoja, an Assistant Presiding Officer II, (APO II) in the March 18th Kogi House of Assembly election identified as Babalola Oluwatobi Peter said his sister was part of those who is still held in captivity.

Peter, who is a brother to one of the victims, faulted the claim from the Nigeria Police Force that all the kidnapped victims have been rescued.

He mentioned those still in the hands of the kidnappers as Muhammed Maimunat, and Abdulrahaman Raji, who are two serving Corps members.

INEC Ad-Hoc staff who are still in captivity according to Peter are Oyaniran Atinuke Ruth, Florence Shayo Ajayi, Opara Tina and Blessing.

Explaining how the ugly incident occurred on that day, Peter said “We were actually coming from Kupa North and South for the Kogi State House of Assembly election. I worked in the North, so we left North some minutes past six and we got to the South at 8:03PM in which we were asked to move to Lokoja by our SPO’s. I told them personally that we are not going, that they should allow us to sleep, that by 4am 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 than to move. When we got to Obajana, the armed robbers attacked us. We have six vehicles, and our vehicles happen to be the second one.

“The first vehicle was able to move away, 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 at 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 life. After everyone was running for their life, I discovered that I didn’t see my sister Oyaniran Atinuke Ruth.

“The incident happened between 1am-2am. 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 newspaper that the kidnapped victims have been rescued. Nothing of such. They contacted us recently, demanding for N50Million.

“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 12am 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 calls or respond to text messages sent to his phone lines.