Six Defence Ministry Directors Abducted on Abuja Highway, ASCSN Demands Decentralization of Promotion Exams
Six senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Defence were kidnapped on Monday, November 10, 2025, along the Kaba–Lokoja expressway while traveling from Lagos to Abuja for a Directorate-level promotion examination. The brazen attack, which eyewitnesses described as “well-coordinated and deliberate,” has reignited national concern over the safety of civil servants on official assignments.
According to Very Nigerian, the victims — 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 — are directors at the Command Day Secondary School (CDSS), Ojo, Lagos. The six women were reportedly en route to Abuja when their convoy was intercepted by armed men, who forced the vehicles off the road and whisked the victims away into nearby forests.
The incident has plunged the Defence Ministry and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) into crisis mode. In an official statement signed by ASCSN President Shehu Mohammed and Secretary-General Joshua Apebo, the union condemned the abduction and called for immediate government intervention.
“The Directors, who are members of our union, were kidnapped while performing official duties. We are deeply alarmed by this incident and are in close contact with relevant authorities to ensure their safe and swift rescue,” the statement read.
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The union confirmed that the Ministry of Defence has activated its internal security apparatus to coordinate with national law enforcement agencies. Reports indicate that the Defence Headquarters has launched a full-scale search operation across Kogi State, deploying tactical units to comb through suspected hideouts.
The ASCSN also used the incident to renew its long-standing demand for decentralization of promotion examinations. “We have repeatedly advised the Federal Civil Service Commission to conduct promotion exams in the states instead of forcing public servants to travel long distances to Abuja,” the statement continued. “The current security situation and deplorable state of Nigerian roads make such journeys unnecessarily dangerous.”
Many Nigerians have echoed these concerns on social media, describing the tragedy as avoidable. Critics argue that the federal bureaucracy’s insistence on centralized exams is outdated and puts lives at risk. “It is absurd that in 2025, civil servants still have to traverse unsafe highways just to sit for a promotion exam,” wrote one civil service commentator.
Public reactions have also reflected anger and frustration over worsening insecurity. Some commentators questioned how Defence Ministry officials — whose department oversees the nation’s military apparatus — could fall victim to such attacks. “If Defence Ministry staff can be kidnapped so easily, what hope is there for ordinary citizens?” one user remarked online.
The abduction has also drawn attention to Nigeria’s broader insecurity crisis. Analysts note that kidnapping-for-ransom operations have increased sharply along major highways, especially in Kogi and Niger States, where criminal gangs operate with relative impunity despite ongoing military patrols.
As of press time, there has been no official confirmation of ransom demands. Security forces have continued operations across the affected axis, while the ASCSN urged the government not only to rescue the abducted directors but also to reform national civil service logistics to prevent future tragedies.
“The lives of public servants must not be gambled with for administrative convenience,” the union emphasized. “This incident is a wake-up call for immediate decentralization and improved security coordination.”
For now, the fate of the six kidnapped directors remains uncertain, but the episode has once again highlighted the grim realities of insecurity in Nigeria — even for those tasked with defending the nation.