50 corpers held hostage in Nasarawa regain freedom

No fewer than 50 youth corps members and the Independent National Electoral Commission   ad hoc

staff   held hostage by some villagers in Assakio, Adogi and Shige area of Lafia Local Government, Nasarawa on Saturday regained their freedom on Sunday.

Spokesman for the group, Mr. Adamu Anzalu, told our correspondent in Lafia that the corps members and INEC officials were abandoned along Ashige in Shendam Road close to Assakio where they were held captive.

According to him, they were held hostage because the collation and returning officers absconded and the villagers insisted on seeing the INEC officials before they were released.

Anzalu said, “I had to convince the villagers that the results would not be altered before we were released 24 hours after.

“It was after that the people released us and we called the security operatives who picked us on our way out of the village.”

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Abdullahi Nanyaya, confirmed the incident.