Armed hoodlums kidnap electoral officers in Imo

Armed hoodlums have abducted the electoral officer, the returning officer and the collation officers in the Isu Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State during the collation of results of the Assembly election.

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An eyewitness said: “They abducted the EO, the returning officer and all the collation officers.”

According to the spokesperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo State, Chinenye Chijioke-Osuji, the election went smoothly and peacefully until the collation time when unscrupulous elements invaded the local government council – allegedly working with the local government area council – and violently found their way into the premises with tear gas and guns and drove everyone away.

She added that all the INEC officials were beaten up and the office destroyed as all the windows, roof, chairs, and tables were broken while some of the staff escaped.

“All the staff were beaten up and the office was destroyed, all the Almaco windows, chairs, and tables were broken. Some of us managed to escape for our dear lives,” she said.

The INEC spokesperson said the development has been reported to security operatives for possible action.

She explained on Sunday that the officers had been rescued.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) had earlier reported that 19 Ad-Hoc staff of INEC, who were kidnapped in the early hours of Saturday in Imo State, were rescued by police operatives in the state.

According to officials, the 19 INEC Ad-Hoc staff were on their way to seven different polling units in Ugbelie ward 06 in Ideato South LGA of Imo state when they were abducted.

INEC spokesperson said the rescue took place after a distress call and information about the incident was made to the operatives who immediately swung into action.

She added that even though they were rescued, all the election materials which include BVAS and sensitive materials were not recovered.