Key Points
- Gunmen kidnapped six Defence Ministry directors on the Kabba-Lokoja highway.
- The Defence Ministry deployed search teams across Kogi State.
- Three youths were killed in a separate attack in Nasarawa.
Six senior directors from the Federal Ministry of Defence were kidnapped by gunmen along the Kabba-Lokoja highway. The incident has caused panic within the civil service.
It happened on November 10 as the officials traveled from Lagos to Abuja for a promotion examination.
Witnesses described the attack as a planned ambush that left security agencies racing to respond.
The abduction has sparked outrage in the ministry and among members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria. The group called for quick action to rescue the victims.
Victims Identified
Association leaders Shehu Mohammed and Joshua Apebo identified the kidnapped officials as Mrs. Ngozi Ibeziakor, Mrs. C. Emeribe, Mrs. Helen Ezeakor, Mrs. C. Ladoye, Mrs. J. Onwuzurike, and Mrs. Catherine Essien. All six serve at Command Day Secondary School in Ojo, Lagos.
The association explained that the Defence Ministry has mobilized a rescue team. It also asked the Federal Civil Service Commission to hold promotion exams in states instead of forcing workers to travel long distances.
The group said poor road conditions and rising insecurity increase the risks for public servants.
Defence Ministry Launches Search
The Defence Ministry has deployed security personnel to track the kidnappers. Search teams are combing suspected hideouts in Kogi State.
Officials confirmed that joint forces are coordinating intelligence and surveillance. They expressed confidence that the victims will be found soon.
The ministry also restated its commitment to the safety of civil servants traveling for official duties.
Three Youths Killed in Fresh Nasarawa Attack
In a separate incident, suspected bandits killed three young men on Gidan-Raid Road in Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The victims were on their way to deliver news of an elder’s death to relatives when they were attacked.
Witnesses said the killings followed an earlier assault in Sarkin Noma, where two people were shot and one abducted two days earlier.
Communities Demand Action
The repeated attacks have created fear among residents. Many gathered for a mass burial in Duduguru, urging the government to increase patrols and protect rural areas.
Mourners expressed anger and frustration over the killings. Some residents even appealed to international leaders for support against terrorism in Nigeria.
