A staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mr. Emmanuel Igwe has been reportedly shot dead by unknown gunmen at the Ivo Local Government Area axis of the State.
The victim, an Assistant Electoral Officer in Afikpo North LGA, encountered the assailants while on his way back from Abia State.
Reports said that the victim’s wife (names withheld) was equally kidnapped by the gunmen.
Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO Ebonyi State Command, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya who revealed that the incident occurred on Sunday around mid-day, said the gunmen shot the victim through his car’s windscreen.
“We have began a manhunt for the assailants. We are hopeful that they will be apprehended. The victim was shot through the windscreen of his car “
The route linking Ivo axis of Ebonyi State through Okigwe has become a den for kidnappers masquerading as Fulani herdsmen.
Motorists traveling from Ebonyi through Ivo local government to Okigwe in Imo state now prefer to travel through long distances through Imo, Abia and Enugu States before getting to Ebonyi as the shorter route has become dangerous for travellers.
This is in spite of the presence of several security agencies manning numerous checkpoints on the route.
