Armed men suspected to be kidnappers have reportedly abducted nine mourners who were escorting the remains of a late Deputy Corps Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Augustine O. Ikwue, in Kogi State. The attackers also temporarily took away the deceased officer’s corpse before abandoning it.
The incident occurred along the Ochadamu–Ejule Road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State as the funeral convoy was transporting the late officer’s remains from Osogbo, Osun State, to his hometown in Otukpo, Benue State for burial. The convoy was ambushed at about 6 p.m. on Thursday.
According to the Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Lawal Fagge, nine people, including two FRSC personnel, were kidnapped during the attack. He confirmed that the body of the late officer was later recovered in Ejule community after a search and was handed over to the family for burial.
The kidnappers reportedly contacted the deceased officer’s wife using his mobile phone and demanded ₦450 million as ransom for the release of the abducted mourners. Security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, the police, local hunters, and vigilante groups, have since launched a search-and-rescue operation to secure the victims’ release.
The incident has sparked widespread concern over the worsening insecurity on Nigerian highways, particularly in parts of the North Central region, with many calling for stronger security measures to protect travelers.
The Koko of the Matter Be Say (Pidgin)
Bandits attack people wey dey carry late FRSC commander, Augustine Ikwue, go bury for Benue. Dem kidnap nine mourners, including two FRSC officers, and even carry the dead body before dem later dump am for Ejule community. The kidnappers don call the family demand ₦450 million ransom to release the people wey dem kidnap. Security agencies don begin operation to rescue the victims.
