Suspected kidnappers have reportedly killed Hon. Rosemary Adukwu, a councillor representing Ogugu Ward III in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, days after abducting her.

Adukwu was reportedly travelling to Onitsha market on September 30, 2026, when her vehicle was intercepted by armed men around the Oji River axis, between Enugu and Anambra states.

The assailants allegedly dragged the councillor out of the commercial vehicle and took her to an undisclosed location in a forest, leaving the other passengers unharmed.

About a week after her abduction, the Chairman of Olamaboro Local Government Area, Dr. Ameh Williams, announced her death in a statement issued on Friday.

The statement read, “It is with deep sorrow that we announce the sudden demise of our dear sister and colleague, Hon. Mrs. Rosemary Adukwu, the honourable councillor representing the good people of Ogugu Ward III in the eighth Olamaboro Legislative Council.”

Williams said her death was confirmed on Thursday while she was still in captivity.

However, the deceased's family has raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding her abduction and death, alleging that the kidnappers singled her out from among the passengers and did not contact the family for ransom before her death was announced.

A family source disclosed that the family learnt of her death while attempting to track her cellphone number.

According to the source, Adukwu regularly travelled to Onitsha market to restock her business and usually patronised the same commercial vehicle driver.

The source said, “Hon. Rosemary Adukwu used to board this particular driver's vehicle to Onitsha market to restock her business. On September 30, she left for Onitsha after confirming from her usual driver that the market would hold on October 1.

“At the boundary community between Enugu and Anambra states, precisely around Oji River, their vehicle ran into a barricade mounted by some people.

 

Thereafter, the hoodlums dragged only her out of the vehicle and took her to an unknown destination. The other passengers continued their journey untouched.

“Her abductors did not contact the family for ransom for almost a week. Confused, the family contacted security operatives who tracked her cellphone.

On Thursday, a voice announced while receiving the call that the owner of the phone was dead.”

The source further disclosed that the vehicle's driver and the person who answered the call to the victim's cellphone had been arrested and were assisting security operatives with the investigation.