Gunmen kill INEC staff in Ebonyi, abduct wife

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed Emmanuel Igwe, an electoral officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ebonyi.

NAN reports that the victim was killed on Sunday when the gunmen attacked him and his wife along the Ishiagu axis of the Ishiagu-Mpu road while returning from Anambra state.

The kidnappers were reported to have also abducted Igwe’s wife.

Nicholas Onu, an INEC staff and Igwe’s colleague, called for the immediate deployment of joint police and military security team to stave off armed kidnapping, robbery and other forms of criminality along the road.

“Mr Emmanuel Igwe was shot and killed by armed kidnappers suspected to be herdsmen while they abducted his wife,” he said.

“Latest information from the family has it that the corpse has been evacuated and deposited at a morgue in Abakaliki while the suspects are demanding for a N10 million ransom.”

Confirming the incident, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, the state police spokesperson, said a detachment of tactical team from the command has been deployed to go after the criminals.

“Yes, there was an attack where one person was shot in the head through the windscreen and nothing was taken from the vehicle and the other victim was a farmer working on his farm whom they cut off the throat,” the police spokesperson said.

“So, there is a serious manhunt for the hoodlums or whoever they are.”