Daniel Otera
Six directors of the Ministry of Defence have been kidnapped by gunmen while travelling from Lagos to Abuja for a scheduled promotion examination.
The incident, which happened on Monday along the Lokoja–Abuja highway, has thrown the civil service community into panic. The victims, identified as Mrs. Ngozi Ibeziakor, Mrs. C.A. Emeribe, Mrs. C. Helen Ezeakor, Mrs. C.A. Ladoye, Mrs. J.A. Onwuzurike, and Mrs. Catherine O. Essien, were said to be heading for the Federal Civil Service Commission’s directorate-level examination.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria confirmed the abduction in a statement signed by its President, Shehu Mohammed, and Secretary-General, Joshua Apebo.
“These directors, who are members of our union and staff of Command Day Secondary School, Ojo, Lagos, were travelling from Lagos to Abuja when they were kidnapped,” the union said.
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The ASCSN condemned the growing insecurity across major highways and urged the government to decentralise promotion examinations to prevent similar tragedies.
“We have repeatedly called on the Federal Civil Service Commission to conduct promotion and verification exercises in various states instead of forcing workers to travel long distances to Abuja. The current security situation and poor state of the roads have made such journeys dangerous,” the statement added.
Sources close to the Defence Ministry described the incident as a “well-coordinated ambush,” suggesting that the attackers might have monitored the movement of the officials before striking. Security operatives have since launched a manhunt in Kogi State, where the victims were reportedly taken.
Kogi has remained a flashpoint for kidnapping in recent months. On November 8, ten passengers were abducted along the Dekina–Ajiyolo–Anyigba Road, while another attack in June claimed one life and left six injured.
Reacting to the latest incident, the ASCSN commended the Defence authorities for their swift response and urged security agencies to “leave no stone unturned” in ensuring the safe release of the abducted officials.