INEC confirms the release of 19 employees kidnapped in Imo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that 19 members of its ad hoc staff who were abducted on their way to the House of Assembly election in the Ideato South local government area of Imo , were released.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Imo, Prof Sylvia Agu, said security officers had secured the release of the abducted victims. However, there is no trace of the election materials they traveled with.
Agu said;
“The attention of the commission has been drawn to a report from Ugbelle (06) Registration Area in Ideato South Local Government Area in Imo State, where thugs took all the election materials and took our staff hostage for a few hours during the Chamber on March 18. of the Assembly election.
“Currently, all the hostage ad hoc staff have been rescued but no trace of the electoral material.
“While the commission remains grateful to the security officers, it condemns such acts of brutality, intimidation and disenfranchisement of voters and urges the public to continue to have confidence in the electoral process.”
