Search Underway for Abducted FRSC Officials and Mourners in Kogi State

Police and security agencies are searching for nine mourners, including two officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). They were kidnapped along the Ochadamu-Ejule road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The victims were on their way with the body of a former Deputy Corps Commander of the FRSC, Augustine Ikwue. They were traveling from Osogbo, Osun State, to his hometown in Otukpo, Benue State, for burial when gunmen attacked their vehicle around 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Lawal Fagge, the Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, confirmed the incident. He said the kidnappers took nine people, including two FRSC personnel, but left the deceased officer's body near Ejule community.

"We recovered the corpse on Friday after a search operation and handed it over to the family. He was buried on Saturday in his hometown in Otukpo," Mr Fagge said.

The kidnappers later used the deceased officer's mobile phone to contact his wife. They demanded a ransom of N450 million for the victims' release.

"The abductors used the cellphone of the deceased officer and called his wife, demanding a huge sum of money for those in their captivity to regain their freedom," he said.

Security sources say police officers, soldiers, local hunters, and vigilantes are now searching the forests around the Ochadamu-Ejule area. They are looking for the victims and the kidnappers.

This incident has drawn anger from the senator representing Benue South, Abba Moro. He called the attack inhumane.

Mr Moro said it is troubling that armed men could ambush a funeral convoy and kidnap grieving mourners for ransom. He sympathized with the family of the late FRSC officer and urged security agencies to step up efforts to rescue those still held.

As of now, the nine abducted mourners, including the two FRSC officials, are still in captivity while rescue operations continue.