Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted the remains of a late Deputy Corps Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Augustine O. Ikwue, along with nine mourners accompanying his body to his hometown in Otukpo, Benue State. The abductors have demanded a ransom of N450 million for the release of the captives.
Ambush on Ochadamu-Ejule Road
The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2026, when the vehicle conveying the corpse was ambushed along the Ochadamu-Ejule road in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State. The officer had died in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, after a brief illness.
Confirmation by FRSC Sector Commander
Kogi State Sector Commander of FRSC, Lawal Fagge, confirmed the incident, stating that nine mourners, including two operatives of the commission, were abducted in the attack. Fagge revealed that the corpse was later abandoned around Ejule community and has been handed over to the family for burial, while efforts are being intensified to rescue the kidnap victims.
“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 home town at Otukpo in Benue,” Fagge said. He added, “The abductors used the cellphone of the deceased officer, and called his wife, demanding huge sum of money for those in their captivity to regain their freedom.”
Security Response and Public Concern
Security operatives, including the Army, police, hunters, and vigilantes, have been mobilised to the area in an attempt to rescue the kidnap victims and possibly apprehend their assailants. Several people have raised concern over the incident, stressing that the bandits have no respect for the dead. The ransom demand of N450 million has heightened anxiety among the families of the victims and the community.
