On the evening of July 24, 2025, gunmen kidnapped Christy Nkiru Okeke, an employee of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), along the Ebenebe axis of Awka North Local Government Area in Anambra State. The abduction took place at approximately 7:00pm. Okeke's husband, who reported the incident at the B Division Police Headquarters in Awka, said the kidnappers later contacted the family demanding a N40 million ransom for her release. Security analyst Zagazola Makama and news outlet Vanguard reported the incident, highlighting the growing insecurity in the region.
Businessman Shot and Wounded on Same Road
About one hour before Okeke was taken, another incident occurred on the same stretch of road. Emmanuel Nwobodo, a businessman, was driving his Mercedes-Benz back from Oba when four men dressed in dark clothing ambushed his vehicle near Ebenebe Community Secondary School. They opened fire, striking Nwobodo in the left knee. Despite his injury, he managed to drive away. His car suffered damage to the radiator and the rear seat belt guard from the gunfire. During the chaos, one of Nwobodo's staff members, Tochukwu Afunenu, fled into nearby bushes. He took the businessman's ATM card and two mobile phones. Subsequently, voice messages were sent from Afunenu's phone claiming that he too had been kidnapped and demanding a N40 million ransom. Nwobodo became suspicious because the messages appeared to be an attempt to extort money, rather than a genuine kidnapping.
Police Probe Possible Links and Conduct Search
Police have launched a thorough investigation into both incidents. According to Makama, "Police said extensive combing of surrounding bushes and intelligence-led tracking operations are ongoing to rescue the abducted victim and apprehend the perpetrators." Investigators are exploring the possibility that the same criminal gang carried out both attacks, given their close timing and location along the same road. The identical ransom demand of N40 million further supports this theory. However, police have not yet confirmed any connection, and the search continues.
High Court Judge Kidnapped in Kebbi State
In a separate but related incident, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, a judge of the Kebbi State High Court, was abducted from his residence in Bunza Local Government Area. The kidnapping occurred around midnight on Sunday along Zogirma Road, shortly after the judge had returned from a trip to neighboring Sokoto State. Suspected bandits carried out the abduction. As of the time of reporting, no ransom demand has been made public, and police are conducting a search operation to locate the judge and apprehend the perpetrators.
These incidents underscore the persistent security challenges across Nigeria, with both public officials and private citizens falling victim to kidnapping. The Anambra State Police Command has called on the public to provide any information that could assist in the rescue of the victims and the arrest of the criminals. The two incidents in Anambra, occurring within hours of each other, have raised alarm about the safety of residents along the Ebenebe road, a route that has seen a rise in criminal activity. Similarly, the abduction of a high court judge in Kebbi highlights the vulnerability of even high-profile individuals to such attacks. Security agencies are under pressure to stem the tide of kidnappings that have plagued various parts of the country.
