Kidnappers of six Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee officers who participated within the governorship and state meeting elections in Kogi State, are reportedly demanding for the sum of N50million for his or her launch.
This was disclosed on Monday, March 27, by the households of the kidnapped victims throughout a press convention in Lokoja. Countering Police Public Relation Officer in Kogi State, SP William Aya’s declare of solely two victims being unaccounted for, an Assistant Presiding Officer II, within the March 18 Kogi Home of Meeting election recognized as Babalola Peter revealed that his sister is a part of these nonetheless held in captivity.
Peter additionally mentioned that Muhammed Maimunat and Abdulrahaman Raji, two serving corps members are nonetheless in captivity alongside some INEC ad-hoc workers he recognized as Oyaniran Atinuke Ruth, Florence Shayo Ajayi, Opara Tina and Blessing.
Narrating how the incident occurred, Peter mentioned;
“We have been truly coming from Kupa North and South for the Kogi State Home of Meeting election. I labored within the North, so we left North some minutes previous six and we bought to the South at 8:03pm during which we have been requested to maneuver to Lokoja by our SPOs.
“I informed them personally that we’re not going, that they need to permit us to sleep, and that by 4am the following day we might stand up and go, identical to the way in which we did throughout the presidential election. However the SPO South mentioned he needs to maneuver. As an APO two, I can not simply inform them no. All different corp members informed them to allow us to sleep over however they insisted. So we had no choice than to maneuver.
“Once we bought to Obajana, the armed robbers attacked us. We had six autos, and our autos occur to be the second. The primary car was in a position to transfer away, whereas the second car mistakenly hit the culvert and couldn’t transfer once more. However earlier than we might know what was taking place, the third car hit us on the again.
“We had three cops however just one was armed. When the armed robber attacked us, the armed police officer instructed us to drag off our white and run for our expensive life. After everybody was working for his or her life, I found that I didn’t see my sister, Oyaniran Atinuke Ruth.
“The incident occurred between 1am and 2am. These those that have been kidnaped have been straight from our bus. We informed the safety company together with INEC that we’re nonetheless in search of six folks together with my sister. They mentioned we should always not fear that we are going to discover them. Up until now, nothing has been achieved. I used to be shocked once I learn in some newspapers that the kidnapped victims have been rescued. Nothing of such. They contacted us lately, demanding for N50million.
“The abductors preserve calling us with completely different numbers. You can not name them, however they will solely name you. They even informed us to ship them recharge card which we did simply because we don’t need them to harm my sister and each different sufferer of their custody.”
Peter referred to as on the federal government and safety businesses to work in the direction of the discharge of the kidnapped victims.
Husband of one of many kidnapped victims, Olawafemi Olakanmi, additional revealed that the final time he spoke to his spouse, Florence Shayo Ajayi, was round 12am earlier than the incident occurred.
He mentioned;
“I’ve not slept since my spouse was kidnapped on nineteenth March 2023. I solely name on God to set my spouse free.”