Gunmen Abduct Six Directors From Defence
The Federal Ministry of Defence has been thrown into panic after gunmen abducted six Directors along the Kabba–Lokoja highway in Kogi State.
The incident reportedly occurred on Monday, November 10, 2025, when the senior officials were travelling from Lagos to Abuja for a Directorate-level promotion examination.
According to security sources, the officials were ambushed by heavily armed men in what has been described as a “well-coordinated attack.”
The abduction has sent shockwaves through the Defence Ministry and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), raising renewed fears about the safety of civil servants travelling for official duties.
In a statement jointly signed by the ASCSN President, Shehu Mohammed, and Secretary-General, Joshua Apebo, the union condemned the attack and assured members that efforts were underway to rescue the victims.
“Those kidnapped are Mrs Ngozi Ibeziakor, Mrs C.A. Emeribe, Mrs C. Helen Ezeakor, Mrs C.A. Ladoye, Mrs J.A. Onwuzurike, and Mrs Catherine O. Essien,” the statement said.
“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 ASCSN disclosed that the Ministry of Defence had mobilised its security operatives to take urgent action toward securing the release of the abducted officials.
“We have always advised the Federal Civil Service Commission to conduct promotion examinations in the states instead of compelling public service employees to travel long distances to Abuja,” the statement added.
“The current security situation and deplorable road conditions expose workers to grave risks.”
The union urged the government to decentralise all promotion and verification exercises to minimise the dangers faced by public servants.
It warned that continued neglect of safety concerns could lead to more tragic incidents.
Meanwhile, sources within the Ministry of Defence confirmed that special security teams had been deployed to comb suspected hideouts across parts of Kogi State.
The ASCSN commended the Defence authorities for their swift response and called on all security agencies to “leave no stone unturned” in ensuring the safe return of the abducted Directors.
