JUST IN: Unknown gunmen kidnap INEC staff in Kogi

Some unknown gunmen on Tuesday abducted staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, along Aloma Road in Kogi State.

According to the report, the victims who were all females were on their way to Anambra State from Abuja on an official assignment ahead of the forthcoming governorship election when the incident occurred.

The kidnappers reportedly blocked the highway, fired shots at the vehicle, and shattered its windscreen. None of the occupants of the vehicle was hit by the bullets.

The INEC officials were reportedly deployed to Anambra for the printing of the voters’ register and other election materials in preparation for the governorship poll scheduled for the first week of November.

The assailants were said to have abducted all the occupants of the bus, including the driver and his wife.

The police authorities are yet to react to the report as effort to reach the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer were unsuccessful.

Recall that the National Peace Committee, NPC, the Secretariat of The Kukah Centre recently stated that the commission will subject candidates of the 16 political parties participating in the election to a peace deal.

The Executive Director of The Kukah Centre and Head of the Secretariat of the NPC, Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo stated this in Awka during a pre-election engagement with stakeholders.

Barkindo said, “We at Kukah centre have come to work with you people who are on ground, and know the social and cultural make up of this state. We are coming to see what we can do to consolidate on the peace you already have here.

“We will be here next week for the signing of the peace accord, and members of the National Peace Committee, and the chairman, Gen. Abdulsalami Abukakar would be here.

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