Gunmen Abduct Corpse, Mourners in Kogi, Demand N450m

Armed men suspected to be kidnappers ambushed a funeral convoy in Kogi State, abducting the corpse of a former Deputy Corps Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Augustine Ikwue, alongside nine mourners travelling with the body.

The attackers later abandoned the deceased’s remains but allegedly demanded N450 million for the release of the mourners taken captive.

The incident occurred at about 6:00 p.m. on Thursday along the Ochadamu-Ejule Road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State as the convoy was conveying Ikwue’s body from Osogbo, Osun State, to his hometown in Otukpo, Benue State, for burial.

Ikwue was said to have died after a brief illness.

Confirming the attack, Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Lawal Fagge, said nine mourners, including two personnel of the commission, were abducted during the ambush.

He disclosed that the deceased’s body was later recovered in Ejule community after an intensive search and subsequently released 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 at Otukpo in Benue,” Fagge said.

According to him, the kidnappers later contacted the deceased officer’s wife using his mobile phone to demand a huge ransom for the release of those still in captivity.

“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.

Sources familiar with the incident said the kidnappers were demanding N450 million before releasing the victims.

Following the attack, security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, the Police, local vigilantes and hunters, launched a joint operation in the area to rescue the abductees and track down the gunmen.

The incident has sparked widespread concern, with many describing it as one of the most disturbing attacks on a funeral procession in recent times.