Four senior female directors of the Ministry of Defence abducted in Kogi State have regained their freedom after spending almost two weeks in captivity, while Mrs. C.A. Ladoye and Mrs. J.A. Onwuzurike were feared dead during the ordeal.
The officials, who were travelling to Abuja for a promotion course and examinations, were ambushed by armed men along the Kabba–Lokoja highway and taken into the forest. They reportedly trekked through remote bush paths in Kogi State before eventually reaching Kaduna State.
The six directors kidnapped during the incident were 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 staff members of the Ministry of Defence.
According to a report by Sahara Reporters, a source close to the situation confirmed that four of the women were released alive, while two were feared dead. Their deaths were said to have resulted from severe exhaustion during the prolonged trek imposed by their abductors, although the online newspaper noted that it could not independently verify the claim.
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“I learned they have been released, but two of them unfortunately couldn’t make it,” the source said. “They died from exhaustion after trekking from Kogi to Kaduna through the forest. The remaining four are undergoing medical examinations.”
The victims were reportedly subjected to harsh conditions in captivity, including minimal access to food, water, and rest — factors believed to have contributed to the fatalities.
Attempts to reach the Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Brigadier General Samaila, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages were unanswered.
The abduction earlier triggered panic within the Ministry of Defence and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN). The union, in a statement signed by President Shehu Mohammed and Secretary-General Joshua Apebo, condemned the attack and confirmed the identities of the kidnapped officials.
Security sources had described the November 10 ambush as a “well-coordinated attack,” raising renewed concerns over the safety of government personnel travelling through the area.
(Platinum Post)