An official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was reportedly abducted after armed men disrupted an African Democratic Congress (ADC) primary election in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Security sources, as reported by counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, said the incident occurred at about 11:15pm on May 22 at Wummy Hotel in Ekori community, where the party’s primary election was being held.
According to the report, the election exercise was thrown into chaos when two separate groups of suspected kidnappers stormed the venue during the process.
One of the groups was said to have seized the INEC returning officer at the scene, forcibly taking him away in a vehicle. The abductors allegedly compelled him to transfer the sum of N70,000 before fleeing the area.
In a separate but simultaneous operation, another group of armed suspects reportedly arrived on motorcycles and carted away ballot boxes and other sensitive election materials from the venue, further disrupting the electoral process.
The publication stated that security forces, acting on intelligence reports, quickly mobilised and laid an ambush for the fleeing suspects along possible escape routes.
During the coordinated response, troops reportedly intercepted the vehicle used in conveying the abducted INEC official and successfully rescued him alive.
Three suspects were also arrested during the operation, while one armed suspect managed to escape into a nearby bush. The fleeing suspect was reportedly armed with a pistol and also made away with a mobile phone, ATM card, travelling bag, and additional election-related materials.
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Security sources confirmed that the rescued INEC official, alongside the arrested suspects and the recovered vehicle, have been taken into military custody for further interrogation and investigation.
Authorities also stated that efforts are ongoing to track down the escaped suspect and recover all stolen electoral materials taken during the attack.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about security during political party primaries and electoral processes in parts of the country, particularly in areas where armed groups and criminal networks are active.
While there has been no official statement from INEC or the ADC at the time of filing this report, security agencies have intensified surveillance and search operations within Yakurr LGA and surrounding communities.
Residents of Ekori community have reportedly been left unsettled by the incident, which disrupted what was meant to be a routine party primary exercise.
Security operatives have assured that those behind the attack will be brought to justice as investigations continue.