Nigeria: Panic As Gunmen Abduct 6 Defence Ministry Directors On Way to Abuja

11 November 2025
Vanguard (Lagos)
By Victor Ahiuma-Young

Panic has gripped the Federal Civil Service following the abduction of six Directors of the Federal Ministry of Defence by suspected gunmen along the Kaba-Lokoja highway.

It was gathered that they abducted on Monday, November 10, 2025. The senior officers, who were travelling from Lagos to Abuja for a Directorate-level promotion examination, were intercepted by the assailants in what sources described as a well-coordinated ambush.

The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the Defence Ministry and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, has sparked renewed concerns over the safety of public servants travelling long distances for official duties.

In a statement, the ASCSN President, Shehu Mohammed, and the Secretary-General, Joshua Apebo, condemned the abduction and assured members that efforts were underway to secure the release of the victims.

Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn

According to the statement "Those kidnapped 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 Command Day Secondary School (CDSS), Ojo, Lagos, were travelling from Lagos to Abuja when they were kidnapped."

The ASCSN disclosed that the Defence Ministry had already mobilized its security operatives, who are taking urgent steps to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted Directors.

"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 added. "The current security situation and deplorable road conditions expose workers to grave risks."

The union urged the government to decentralize all promotion and verification exercises henceforth, warning that continued disregard for 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 around Kogi State.

The ASCSN commended the Defence authorities for their swift response and called on security agencies to leave no stone unturned in ensuring the safe return of the abducted officers.

Read the original article on Vanguard.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2025 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.