Gunmen Abduct Six, Including Three INEC Staff, Along Kogi Highway Ahead of Anambra Governorship Election

Tension gripped parts of Kogi State on Tuesday as gunmen suspected to be kidnappers abducted six passengers, including three staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), along the Aloma axis of the state. The victims were reportedly on an official assignment to Anambra State ahead of the November 8 governorship election when they were attacked in broad daylight.

According to reports, the incident occurred at about 3 p.m. when the victims, traveling in a Sienna minibus belonging to Anambra Comfort Line, were ambushed by heavily armed men who opened fire on the vehicle before forcing the passengers into the surrounding bush. The attack has sparked widespread concern over the safety of electoral officials and the potential implications for the forthcoming Anambra poll.

The abducted INEC officials have been identified as Chinenye Orji, Adamaka Anih, and Catherine Temaugee, all of whom were deployed to Anambra to handle pre-election logistics, including printing of voters’ registers and other sensitive materials essential for the election. Sources close to the electoral body confirmed that the officials were traveling from the commission’s headquarters in Abuja to Awka, the Anambra State capital, to finalize preparations for the exercise.

A source who spoke to Sahara Reporters under anonymity said the victims were part of a technical team dispatched to support electoral readiness in Anambra. “Three INEC staff (all ladies) and others have been kidnapped at Aloma, Kogi State. They boarded a Sienna minibus from Utako this morning on official assignment to Anambra State before this unfortunate issue happened,” the source revealed.

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Driver and Elderly Passenger Escape Abduction

The driver of the minibus, who narrowly escaped, narrated his ordeal, describing the attack as sudden and terrifying. He said the gunmen, numbering about six, emerged from the bush and began shooting indiscriminately at the vehicle, shattering the windscreen and forcing it to a halt. “They came out of nowhere and started firing at us. Everyone panicked. Before we knew it, they surrounded the vehicle and ordered us out at gunpoint. They took six people into the bush, including my wife and the INEC ladies,” he recounted.

The driver further disclosed that he and an elderly female passenger were later released, apparently because of her frail health and his role as the driver. The woman, who also confirmed the incident, told reporters that the journey started from the Utako motor park in Abuja at around 9 a.m. “We left Utako in the morning and stopped briefly in Lokoja to eat. Everything was fine until we reached Aloma. Suddenly, gunshots rang out, and before we could react, they had surrounded us. The driver and I were released, but they took others away,” she said, visibly shaken.

According to her, the kidnappers made no immediate ransom demand but indicated that they would contact the victims’ families later. She added that the incident was reported at the Aloma Police Station shortly after their release. “We went straight to the police to report. The officers took our statements and promised to begin tracking the kidnappers,” she said.

Police Launch Investigation; Abductors Yet to Make Contact

Security operatives in Kogi State have confirmed the abduction, noting that an investigation is already underway. A senior police source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the command received the report from Aloma Police Division and immediately deployed tactical units to comb the forests along the route. “We are aware of the incident. The state command has mobilized operatives to the area to search for the victims and track down the criminals. So far, the kidnappers have not made any contact or ransom demand,” the officer stated.

The attack adds to a growing list of violent incidents along major highways in Kogi State, a corridor that links the Federal Capital Territory with the South-East and South-South regions. In recent months, reports of kidnappings and armed robberies have increased along the Lokoja–Enugu and Okene–Auchi roads, raising serious concerns about security ahead of the 2025 off-cycle elections.

INEC officials, who spoke to journalists off record, expressed deep concern over the safety of their colleagues. They described the incident as a major setback in pre-election logistics, particularly given that the abducted officials were handling vital operations related to voter data and materials preparation. One senior staff member said, “These are key personnel working on the technical side of the election. Their safety is our top priority, but we also worry about the disruption this may cause to our timetable.”

Widespread Condemnation and Calls for Action

Public reaction to the abduction has been swift, with many Nigerians condemning the persistent insecurity that continues to endanger citizens and public officials alike. Civil society organizations and election observers have called on the Federal Government to strengthen security along major routes used by INEC personnel and election materials, especially in the buildup to the Anambra governorship poll.

Security analysts have also urged authorities to deploy technology-driven surveillance and intelligence operations to counter kidnapping networks operating across Kogi’s forest belts. They warned that such incidents could undermine electoral confidence and discourage staff participation in future assignments if not urgently addressed.

As of Wednesday morning, the whereabouts of the six abducted individuals remained unknown. Families of the victims were said to be anxiously awaiting contact from the kidnappers, while security agencies continued search-and-rescue operations in the dense forests surrounding Aloma and neighboring communities.

The Kogi State Police Command has assured the public that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victims unharmed and apprehend the perpetrators. For now, the abduction serves as another grim reminder of Nigeria’s deepening security challenges—one that threatens not just lives but also the smooth conduct of critical democratic processes.