A youth corps member and a presiding officer deployed to Indiokolo unit, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State were abducted on Saturday during the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.
Although the elections in Anambra was generally described as peaceful, it was, however, gathered that there were few isolated incidents of electoral violations in the state.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Rabiu Ladodo, while briefing journalists on the conduct of the election in the State, noted that some persons were kidnapped during the electioneering process.
He said;
“I have gone round the State along with heads of other security agencies both on aerial and vehicular patrols in order to assess levels of deployment by the security agencies at various polling units and to ensure that the electorates exercise their franchise without hindrance.
“The election is generally peaceful and all the places visited have witnessed significant turnout of voters amid tight security in the areas.
“However, despite the relative peace recorded so far, there are few isolated incidents recorded such as ballot box snatching at Onuma Imeobi Square Ward Six Unit 4 Onitsha, vote buying, disruption of election in some polling units, alleged abduction of a presiding officer and a youth corper in Indiokolo unit, Orumba North LGA of Anambra South Senatorial Zone.”
Ladodo added that consequently, the command had arrested seven suspects in connection with vote buying and disruption of the electoral process.
He said the Command equally arrested two armed mobile police personnel on illegal duty, adding that all cases were under investigation at the State CIID, Awka and effort was being intensified to rescue the abducted persons and bring perpetrators to justice.
The Commissioner stated that exhibits recovered from the suspects include one mini shuttle bus, two motorcycles, the sum of N110,920, two handbags containing dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and two knives.