Widespread panic has engulfed the Federal Ministry of Defence and the wider civil service community following the abduction of six senior directors by suspected gunmen along the Kabba–Lokoja highway on Monday, November 10, 2025.
The victims, all senior officials of the ministry, were reportedly travelling from Lagos to Abuja to participate in a directorate-level promotion examination when their convoy was ambushed in what sources described as a coordinated and targeted attack.
The shocking incident has heightened fears among civil servants, reigniting debates about the safety of public officers who often undertake long road journeys for official duties.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) condemned the abduction and called for urgent government action to rescue the victims and enhance workers’ security.
According to the statement jointly signed by ASCSN President, Comrade Shehu Mohammed, and Secretary-General, Comrade Joshua Apebo, the abducted officials 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.
“These Directors, who are members of our Union and staff of the Command Day Secondary School (CDSS), Ojo, Lagos, were kidnapped while on their way to Abuja for an official assignment,” the statement read.
The union disclosed that the Ministry of Defence has already mobilized security operatives and intelligence units to track the kidnappers and secure the safe release of the abducted officers.
ASCSN also criticized the Federal Civil Service Commission for compelling officers to travel long distances for promotion examinations, stressing that such centralization exposes workers to grave dangers amid worsening insecurity.
“We have repeatedly urged the Commission to decentralize promotion and verification exercises to various zones across the country,” the union said.
“The current practice of summoning staff to Abuja despite the insecurity and poor road conditions is not only insensitive but also life-threatening.”
Meanwhile, sources within the Defence Ministry confirmed that specialized search-and-rescue teams have been deployed across parts of Kogi State to comb suspected hideouts and secure the victims’ release.
The ASCSN commended the Defence authorities for their swift response but urged security agencies to intensify efforts until the abducted officials are safely reunited with their families.
The abduction has once again underscored Nigeria’s deepening security challenges, particularly on major highways, where cases of kidnapping and banditry continue to rise despite government assurances.
