Kidnappers Demand N150m Ransom for Release of Six Abducted Defence Ministry Directors

By Our Correspondent

The abductors of six directors from the Federal Ministry of Defence, who were kidnapped earlier this month, are reportedly demanding N150 million as ransom for the safe release of the officials.

The kidnapped directors have been identified as Mrs. Ngozi Ibeziakor, Mrs.

All six victims are senior members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) and staff of the Command Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Ojo, Lagos.

They were abducted on November 10 along the Kabba–Lokoja highway in Kogi State while travelling from Lagos to Abuja for a Directorate-level promotion examination.

Eyewitnesses and sources familiar with the incident described the attack as a coordinated ambush by heavily armed attackers who blocked the highway, leaving the officials with no chance to escape.

Family members of the abducted directors have expressed deep distress over the ransom demand.

One relative said, “We are still traumatised by what happened. Now the kidnappers are asking for N150 million to release all six of them. How can we possibly raise such a huge sum? We beg them to free our loved ones unharmed; that is all we can plead for at this point.”

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) condemned the abduction in a statement signed by its President, Shehu Mohammed, and Secretary-General, Joshua Apebo.

The union also reassured its members that every effort is being made to ensure the directors’ safe release.

According to ASCSN, the Ministry of Defence has initiated a coordinated response involving security agencies and relevant stakeholders to fast-track the safe recovery of the abducted directors.