By Obinna Uballa
Mrs. Ngozi Ibeziakor, Mrs. C.A. Emeribe, Mrs. C. Helen Ezeakor, Mrs. C.A. Ladoye, Mrs. J.A. Onwuzurike, and Mrs. Catherine O. Essien, have been identified as the six members of the Defence Ministry and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), abducted by gunmen in Kogi State on their way to Abuja.
The victims who were travelling from Lagos to Abuja are all members of ASCSN and staff of Command Day Secondary School (CDSS), Ojo, Lagos.
Recall that panic had erupted across the Federal Civil Service following their abduction along the Kaba–Lokoja highway by suspected gunmen.
The senior officers, said to be travelling to Abuja for a Directorate-level promotion examination, were intercepted on Monday, November 10, 2025, in what sources described as a well-coordinated ambush.
The incident has sent shockwaves through ASCSN, raising serious concerns about the safety of public servants required to travel long distances for official duties.
In a statement, ASCSN President Shehu Mohammed and Secretary-General Joshua Apebo condemned the abduction and assured members that efforts were underway to secure the safe release of the victims.
The union identified the kidnapped officers as, “Mrs. Ngozi Ibeziakor, Mrs. C.A. Emeribe, Mrs. C. Helen Ezeakor, Mrs. C.A. Ladoye, Mrs. J.A. Onwuzurike, and Mrs. Catherine O. Essien,” all members of ASCSN and staff of Command Day Secondary School (CDSS), Ojo, Lagos.
“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 said. “The current security situation and deplorable road conditions expose workers to grave risks.”
The ASCSN called on the government to decentralize all promotion and verification exercises going forward, warning that neglecting safety concerns could lead to further tragedies.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has reportedly intensified efforts to locate the victims, deploying specialized security teams to comb suspected hideouts in Kogi State.
The union commended the Defence authorities for their swift response and urged all security agencies to “leave no stone unturned” in ensuring the safe return of the abducted officers.
