Six senior directors of the Federal Ministry of Defence were on Monday, November 10, 2025, abducted by terrorists along the Kabba–Lokoja highway in Kogi State, plunging the ministry and the civil service community into panic.
The officials were travelling from Lagos to Abuja for a scheduled promotion examination when armed men reportedly ambushed their convoy in what sources described as a “well-coordinated and premeditated” attack.
The victims have been identified 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 senior directors and members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN).
They are staff of Command Day Secondary School (CDSS), Ojo, Lagos. The abduction has triggered shock and outrage within the Defence Ministry and the ASCSN, reigniting concerns over the worsening state of insecurity on major highways across the country. In a joint statement on Tuesday, ASCSN President Shehu Mohammed and Secretary-General Joshua Apebo condemned the attack and confirmed ongoing collaboration with security agencies to secure the victims’ release. “The Defence Ministry has deployed its security units to coordinate search operations and facilitate the safe rescue of the abducted directors,” the union stated.
The ASCSN leadership also criticised the Federal Civil Service Commission for centralising promotion examinations in Abuja, insisting that such practices expose workers to unnecessary dangers. “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 read. “The current security situation and deplorable road conditions expose workers to grave risks.” The union further urged the government to immediately decentralise all promotional and verification exercises, warning that failure to act could lead to more tragedies.
Meanwhile, the Defence Ministry has reportedly intensified operations in Kogi State, deploying specialised teams to comb forests and suspected hideouts believed to be used by the attackers. While commending the swift response by Defence authorities, ASCSN called on the country’s security agencies to “leave no stone unturned” in ensuring the safe return of the kidnapped directors.