By Suleiman Abdulmumin
Police and other security agencies have intensified a coordinated search and rescue operation following the abduction of nine mourners, including two officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), along the Ochadamu–Ejule road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State. The victims were reportedly ambushed by suspected kidnappers while travelling in a funeral convoy.
Security sources said police, soldiers, local hunters and vigilantes have been deployed to the area to rescue the victims and track down their abductors.
The victims were travelling with the remains of a late Deputy Corps Commander of the FRSC, Augustine O. Ikwue, to his hometown in Otukpo, Benue State, for burial when their vehicle ran into an ambush around 6 p.m. on Thursday.
The late officer reportedly died after a brief illness in Osogbo, Osun State.
Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Lawal Fagge, confirmed the incident, saying the kidnappers abducted nine people, including two FRSC officials.
He said the abductors later abandoned the corpse of the deceased officer near the Ejule community.
“We recovered the corpse on Friday after a search operation and handed it over to the family. He was buried on Saturday in his hometown in Otukpo,” Fagge said.
According to him, the kidnappers later used the deceased officer’s mobile phone to contact his wife and demanded a ransom of N450 million for the release of those in captivity.
He said security agencies had intensified efforts to rescue the victims unharmed.
The incident has sparked concern among residents and members of the public, with many expressing shock that the attackers intercepted a funeral convoy and even abandoned the corpse after the abduction.
Senator Abba Moro (Benue South) has strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a cruel and disturbing act that targeted grieving individuals. He expressed deep sympathy with the Ikwue family over their loss and called on security agencies to step up efforts to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted victims and bring those responsible to justice.