A funeral journey meant to bid farewell to a respected officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) turned into a nightmare after suspected kidnappers ambushed a convoy conveying his remains to Benue State, abducting several mourners and briefly making away with the corpse.
The late officer, Deputy Corps Commander Augustine O. Ikwue, popularly known as “Etume Zero,” was being transported to his hometown for burial when the convoy came under attack along a route in Kogi State.
According to reports, the armed men intercepted the funeral procession, forced several mourners into the bush and initially took away the remains of the deceased officer alongside the victims.
The corpse was later abandoned by the kidnappers and recovered around Ejule, Kogi State, enabling the family to continue with burial arrangements. However, the abducted mourners remain in captivity as efforts to secure their release continue.
The late Augustine O. Ikwue was scheduled to be buried in Ai-Ode, Upu Community, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, before the attack disrupted the solemn journey.
Reports on the ransom demand have, however, differed. While some media organisations quoted sources as saying the kidnappers demanded ₦50 million for the victims’ freedom, others reported a significantly higher figure. As of the time of filing this report, security agencies had not officially confirmed the amount being demanded by the abductors.
The Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Lawal Fagge, confirmed the incident, stating that the late officer’s body had been recovered and released to the family for burial. He also disclosed that security agencies had intensified efforts to rescue those still being held by the kidnappers.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage across the country, with many Nigerians describing it as a disturbing reflection of the nation’s worsening security challenges. Citizens and civil society groups have urged security agencies to intensify rescue operations, ensure the safe return of the victims and bring those responsible for the attack to justice.
The attack adds to the growing wave of kidnappings targeting travellers on Nigerian highways, reinforcing fresh calls for stronger security measures to protect lives and restore public confidence on the nation’s roads.
