INEC official who was kidnapped during the election has been released

After being taken hostage on Friday, the Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bayelsa has returned home.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), while travelling to the Sagbama Local Government Area’s Registration Area Centre – 06 (Ossioma), the SPO was kidnapped by armed individuals.

In a statement made available to reporters on Saturday, Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, the state INEC’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity in Yenagoa, corroborated the remark.

Ifogah reports that the officer is in good health.

According to NAN, the officer—whose identity remained a secret—was kidnapped as he was ready to board a boat at Amassoma Jetty to go to his deployment location.

It was not possible to get in touch with CSP Asinim Butswat, the state’s Police Command spokesman.