A senior officer of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and his orderly have been abducted by gunmen near the agency’s head office along the Isah-Ogwashi-Uku Road in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The incident reportedly occurred around 8:00 pm on Friday as the officer was heading home after work.

Eyewitnesses stated that the assailants ambushed their victims, forcing them into an unmarked vehicle before fleeing the scene.

Speaking on the incident, a source close to the agency said, “It seems like the kidnappers had prior knowledge of the officer’s movements. The ambush was well-coordinated, suggesting they might have been tracking him for some time.”

This abduction is the latest in a spate of kidnappings in Ogwashi-Uku, with five reported cases in the past 10 days.

In one of the most recent incidents, two youths were shot dead while two others were abducted along the Edo-Otulu Road in Agidiase Quarters.

Residents of Ogwashi-Uku have expressed fear and frustration over the growing insecurity.

“We are no longer safe in our own community. The government must act swiftly to address this menace before more lives are lost,” a local leader, who pleaded for anonymity, lamented.

Security sources believe the kidnappers may be operating with insider information, as they have consistently altered their patterns to avoid being apprehended.

“The criminals seem to have an informant who keeps them ahead of security agencies,” a source said.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the NDLEA Delta State Command, Mr. John Kennedy, refused to comment on the matter.

It was learnt that efforts were ongoing to locate the abducted officer and his orderly, as the community calls for increased security presence to curb the rising wave of the violent crime.

President Bola Tinubu has urged candidates dissatisfied with the outcome of the Ondo State governorship election to explore the opportunities provided by the judicial system to seek redress.

President Tinubu who congratulated Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) also commended the peaceful conduct of the process.

The President congratulated other candidates of the 17 political parties for the maturity and sense of purpose demonstrated during the campaigns and the election, attributing the success of the polls to the civility in the state.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement enjoined political actors to allow their orderly conduct permeate the post-election activities and processes.

“Those dissatisfied with the outcome of the election can explore the opportunities provided by the judicial system to seek redress on areas of conflict,” the statement read.

“President Tinubu believes the Ondo State election was another litmus test of the capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission, affirming that the electoral body justified the confidence of the people with early preparations, deployment of staff and materials, and handling of the electoral process.”

The President also commended INEC for the efficiency of uploading more than 98 per cent of results on the same day of the election.

The President extended his appreciation to the Nigerian Police Force, National Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Youth Service Corps, the military and other security outfits for their professionalism in maintaining peace and order.

After winning the governorship election in Ondo State, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has announced plans to dominate the Southwestern states.

This bold move aims to solidify APC’s presence in the region.

With its victory in Ondo, Ganduje is confident that APC can secure power in all Southwestern states.

“Our next target now is this geo-political zone, the Southwest geopolitical zone,” he said.

He expressed confidence in the party’s ability to hit its targets, particularly in Southwest Nigeria and commitment to securing victories in the remaining states in the region.

“You know we are good at hitting the target, that is Osun State and Oyo State. We assure you, we will do what is possible to bring them into the fold. So we have political homogeneity in the South-West Geopolitical zone,” he boasted.

The APC has secured a decisive victory in the Ondo State governorship election, garnering 366,781 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which polled 117,845 votes.

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the incumbent governor, was previously the deputy governor who took office after Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s passing in December 2023. He faced stiff competition from 16 other candidates, including Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

With this victory, the APC has strengthened its hold on the South-West region, now governing Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, and Ondo states. The PDP, however, governs Osun and Oyo states.