The police in Nigeria rescued 17 staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who were kidnapped by gunmen in the southern state of Imo.

The INEC officials were on their way to seven different polling units in the state where they were kidnapped.

Chinenye Chijioke-Osuji, a spokesperson for the electoral body in the state, confirmed the development to reporters, saying they were rescued after a distress call.

Following an intelligence report, the security operatives immediately swung into action in the early hours of Saturday.

Meanwhile, vote counting and announcement of results are still ongoing in the governorship and Assembly elections held on Saturday, March 18, 2023.

The elections which took place in twenty-eight out of the thirty-six States of the country have so far produced the first female governor and a 26-year-old female State member of parliament.

WADR’s Usman Umar is here with a report.