Suspected kidnappers have abducted nine mourners, including two officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, after attacking a funeral convoy conveying the remains of a late Deputy Corps Commander of the FRSC, Augustine O. Ikwue, along the Ochadamu-Ejule Road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The attackers were also said to have temporarily taken away the deceased officer’s corpse during the Thursday evening ambush before abandoning it in Ejule community.
The assailants have reportedly contacted the family of the deceased, demanding a ransom of N450 million for the release of those abducted.
The late Ikwue was said to have died after a brief illness in Osogbo, Osun State, and his remains were being conveyed to his hometown in Otukpo, Benue State, for burial when the convoy was attacked at about 6 p.m.
Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Lawal Fagge, said nine persons travelling in the convoy, including two FRSC personnel, were whisked away by the gunmen.
He, however, disclosed that the corpse of the late officer was recovered on Friday after an extensive search and subsequently handed over to the family for burial.
“We recovered the corpse of the officer in Ejule community on Friday after frantic searching and handed it over to the family. He was buried on Saturday in his hometown in Otukpo, Benue State,” Fagge said.
According to him, the kidnappers later used the deceased officer’s mobile phone to contact his wife, demanding a huge ransom for the release of those held captive.
“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 added.
Security sources said troops of the Nigerian Army, police operatives, local hunters and vigilante groups have been deployed to the area to rescue the victims and track down the kidnappers.
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