By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Six senior directors of the Federal Ministry of Defence have been abducted by gunmen along the Kaba–Lokoja highway in Kogi State, underscoring the worsening insecurity on Nigeria’s major roads.
According to Vital News reports in Lokoja, the officials were kidnapped on Monday, November 10, 2025, while travelling from Lagos to Abuja to participate in the ministry’s annual promotion examination.
The victims were 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 — all senior staff of the Command Day Secondary School (CDSS), Ojo, Lagos.
In a joint statement signed by the President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Mr. Shehu Mohammed, and the Secretary-General, Mr. Joshua Apebo, the union condemned the abduction and assured members that efforts were underway to secure the victims’ release.
“These Directors, who are members of our Union and staff of Command Day Secondary School (CDSS), Ojo, Lagos, were travelling from Lagos to Abuja when they were kidnapped,” the statement read.
The ASCSN further revealed that the Ministry of Defence had already mobilized security operatives to track and rescue the abducted officials.
“We have always advised the Federal Civil Service Commission to conduct promotion examinations in various states instead of compelling public servants to travel long distances to Abuja,” the union added.
The statement criticized the centralization of such examinations, citing the current security challenges and poor road conditions as major risks to federal employees.
Meanwhile, sources within the Ministry of Defence confirmed that specialized security teams have been deployed across parts of Kogi State to locate the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.
Residents along the Kaba–Lokoja corridor have also expressed fear over the increasing rate of abductions and bandit attacks in the area, urging government authorities to intensify surveillance and patrol operations.
The Kogi State Police Command has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident as of the time of filing this report.
