Suspected kidnappers have abducted several mourners travelling with the remains of a senior Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officer in Kogi State after ambushing the funeral convoy along the Ochadamu–Ejule Road in Ofu Local Government Area.
The deceased officer, Deputy Corps Commander Augustine Ikwue, reportedly died after a brief illness in Osogbo, Osun State. His body was being conveyed to his hometown in Otukpo, Benue State, for burial when the convoy came under attack on Thursday evening.
The Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Lawal Fagge, confirmed the incident, saying nine people, including two FRSC personnel, were abducted during the attack.
According to Fagge, the gunmen later abandoned the deceased officer’s body in Ejule community, where it was recovered by search teams and handed over to the family for burial.
“We recovered the corpse in Ejule community after an intensive search and handed it over to the family. He was eventually buried in his hometown in Otukpo,” Fagge said. He added that the kidnappers allegedly used the late officer’s mobile phone to contact his wife and demand a ransom for those still in captivity.
Initial reports carried varying ransom figures. While some reports claimed the kidnappers demanded #450 million, other accounts put the demand at #50 million. The FRSC has not officially confirmed the exact amount demanded.
Security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, local vigilantes and hunters, have launched a coordinated operation to rescue the abducted mourners and apprehend those responsible for the attack.
The incident has triggered widespread public outrage and renewed concerns over the persistent insecurity on major highways, particularly in parts of Kogi State, where kidnappings have become increasingly frequent. Many Nigerians have expressed shock that a funeral procession conveying the remains of a senior security official could be targeted by armed criminals.
Authorities have urged motorists to remain vigilant while travelling through vulnerable routes and assured the public that efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
