Six Directors of the Federal Ministry of Defence have been abducted by gunmen while travelling from Lagos to Abuja for a Directorate-level promotion examination.
The incident occurred on Monday along the Kabba-Lokoja-Abuja highway in a suspected ambush.
It has sent shockwaves through the Defence Ministry and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), sparking renewed concerns over the safety of public servants travelling long distances for official duties.
In a statement, the ASCSN President, Shehu Mohammed, and the Secretary-General, Joshua Apebo, condemned the abduction and assured members that efforts were underway to secure the release of the victims.
According to the statement, those kidnapped are Mrs Ngozi Ibeziakor, Mrs C.A. Emeribe, Mrs C. Helen Ezeakor, Mrs C.A. Ladoye, Mrs J.A. Onwuzurike, and Mrs Catherine O. Essien.
The union said the directors, who are members of ASCSN and staff of Command Day Secondary School (CDSS), Ojo, Lagos, were travelling from Lagos to Abuja when they were kidnapped.
The ASCSN disclosed that the Defence Ministry had already mobilised its security operatives, who are taking urgent steps to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted directors.
The statement added that the union had always advised the Federal Civil Service Commission to conduct promotion examinations in the states instead of compelling public service employees to travel long distances to Abuja.
It further emphasised that the current security and road conditions expose workers to grave risks, warning that neglect of safety concerns could lead to further tragedies.
The union urged the government to decentralise all promotion and verification exercises henceforth, cautioning that continued disregard for safety concerns could result in more tragedies.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has intensified efforts to locate the victims, deploying specialised security teams to comb suspected hideouts around Kogi State.
The ASCSN commended the Defence authorities for their swift response and called on security agencies to leave no stone unturned in ensuring the safe return of the abducted officers.
