Suspected kidnappers launched a brazen attack on a funeral convoy in Kogi State, abducting nine mourners, including two officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and briefly seizing the corpse of a late Deputy Corps Commander of the commission, Augustine Ikwue, in an incident that has sparked outrage across the country.
The late FRSC officer had died after a brief illness in Osogbo, Osun State. His remains were being conveyed to his hometown, Otukpo, Benue State, for burial when the convoy was ambushed around 6:00 p.m. on Thursday along the Ochadamu-Ejule Road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The gunmen reportedly overpowered the mourners, abducted nine peopleāincluding two FRSC personnelāand initially made away with the corpse of the deceased officer.
The Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Lawal Fagge, confirmed the attack, disclosing that the corpse was recovered the following day after an intensive search.
“We recovered the corpse of the officer in Ejule community on Friday after frantic searching and handed it over to the family. He was buried on Saturday in his hometown of Otukpo, Benue State,” Fagge said.
He added that the kidnappers used the late officer’s mobile phone to contact his wife, demanding N450 million ransom for the release of those still being held captive.
Security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, the Police, local hunters and vigilante groups, have since launched a coordinated operation across the area to rescue the abducted mourners and track down the attackers.
The incident has triggered widespread condemnation, with many Nigerians describing it as a horrifying reflection of the country’s worsening insecurity. Residents and observers expressed shock that armed criminals could attack a funeral procession, abduct grieving relatives and even seize the remains of a deceased public servant in pursuit of ransom.
As of the time of filing this report, the nine abducted victims remained in captivity, while rescue efforts by security operatives were ongoing.