In a shocking and unprecedented act of criminality, a gang of suspected bandits intercepted a funeral procession along the Ochadamu-Ejule Road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, abducting nine mourners including two officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and making away with the corpse of a deceased top FRSC official.
The bandits have reportedly demanded N450 million ransom from the grieving family to secure the victims.
The victims were accompanying the remains of the late Deputy Corps Commander of the FRSC, Augustine O. Ikwue, to his ancestral home in Otukpo, Benue State, for burial when they drove straight into the gunmen at about 6:00 pm on Thursday.
DCC Ikwue had reportedly passed away after a brief illness in Osogbo, Osun State, where he was previously stationed.
Confirming the bizarre and harrowing incident, the Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr. Lawal Fagge, stated that the attackers targeted the funeral convoy, kidnapping nine people, including two uniform personnel of the commission.
In a twist, Fagge revealed that after a frantic and high-stakes search through the bushes by security operatives, the body of the late senior officer was eventually recovered where the bandits had dumped it in the Ejule community on Friday.
“We managed to recover the corpse of the officer in Ejule community on Friday and immediately handed it over to the family. I can confirm that he was buried today, Saturday, in his hometown, Otukpo, Benue State,” the Sector Commander said.
The Sector Commander further added: “The heartless abductors used the late officer’s mobile phone to call his grieving wife. They are demanding a huge sum of money before they can release those currently languishing in their captivity.”
A combined team of the military, police, local hunters, and vigilantes has already been heavily deployed to the Ofu axis, combing the dense forests to rescue the abductees and smash the syndicate.
Terrified residents have once again cried out to the Inspector General of Police and state authorities to permanently flush out bandits operating along the notorious highway.
