The abductors of six senior directors of the Federal Ministry of Defence have demanded a ransom of N150 million, the relatives has disclosed.
“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,” a family member told Daily Post.
The victims were kidnapped on Monday along Kabba- Lokoja highway while traveling from Lagos to Abuja to sit for promotion exams.
The six kidnapped directors are Mrs Ngozi Ibeziakor, Mrs C. Emeribe, Mrs Helen Ezeakor, Mrs C. Ladoye, Mrs J. Onwuzurike, and Mrs Catherine Essien.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, had condemned the attack in a statement signed by its President, Shehu Mohammed, and Secretary-General, Joshua Apebo.
“These Directors, who are members of our Union and staff of Command Day Secondary School (CDSS), Ojo, Lagos, were travelling from Lagos to Abuja when they were kidnapped.”
The union said the Ministry of Defence had activated its security operatives to work toward securing the release of the abducted officials, while also renewing its call for decentralised promotion examinations.
“We have 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,” the statement added.
A colleague of the kidnapped victim who did not want her name on print because she was not authorized to speak on the matter said the incident was avoidable, voicing that the government should have put a system in place that would allow civil servants sit for the exams without having to travel to Abuja. ” The incident was avoidable if there is a system that allows them to write the exams in Lagos State.” The colleague said.
The wave of insecurity in Nigeria especially kidnapping, has become a source for concern despite claims improvement by the Tinubu administration.
