A councillor representing Ogugu Ward III in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Rosemary Adukwu, has died after being abducted while travelling to Onitsha, Anambra State, to purchase goods for her business.

Her death was announced on Friday, October 9, by the Chairman of Olamaboro Local Government Area, Ameh Williams, in a statement issued on behalf of the local government executive council. Williams described her death as a painful loss to her colleagues, family and constituents. (Premium Times)

Reports indicate that Adukwu was abducted on September 30 when the commercial vehicle she was travelling in was intercepted around Oji River, near the boundary between Enugu and Anambra states. She was reportedly taken away by armed assailants, while the other passengers were allowed to continue their journey.

According to accounts attributed to her family, Adukwu regularly travelled with the same driver to Onitsha to restock her business. The family reportedly became concerned when the abductors failed to contact them for several days to demand a ransom.

A family source cited by Daily Trust said relatives eventually contacted security operatives, who reportedly tracked the councillor’s phone number. The source claimed that the person who answered the call said the phone’s owner was dead.

The family also raised questions about why Adukwu was allegedly singled out from the other passengers and why no ransom demand was reportedly made before news of her death emerged.

Reports further stated that the vehicle’s driver and the person who answered the call to the councillor’s phone had been arrested and were assisting security operatives with the investigation. However, the circumstances surrounding the abduction and death had not been independently established, and the family’s account remained unverified by Premium Times at the time of its report.

Williams expressed condolences to Adukwu’s family, members of the Olamaboro Legislative Council and the wider Ogugu community. He described her as a humble and dependable colleague whose contributions would be remembered.

The President-General of the Ogugu District Union, Samuel Ige Agada, also condemned the incident, describing it as a devastating loss to the community.

Agada said Adukwu was a grassroots leader, businesswoman, wife and mother who was working to support her family. He expressed sympathy for her loved ones and called attention to the wider impact of her death on Ogugu Ward III, the district and Kogi State.

The councillor was reportedly buried at about 1 p.m. on Friday at her family compound in Ogugu Centre.

The spokesperson for the Kogi State Police Command, Saliu Oyiza Afusat, had not responded to enquiries about the incident by the time Premium Times published its report. As a result, key details about the circumstances of the abduction and death, as well as the reported arrests, still require official clarification.

Adukwu’s death has left her family, colleagues and constituents mourning while questions remain about what happened after she was taken away. Residents will be looking to security agencies for a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia