₦airaland Forum

Four of the six female directors of the Ministry of Defence earlier kidnapped in Kogi State have regained their freedom from captivity, trekking through Kogi forests to Kaduna State, SaharaReporters has learnt.

This is after nearly two weeks in the kidnappers’ den.

The senior officials were abducted on their way to a promotion course and examinations when armed men intercepted their vehicle and whisked them into the forest.

The victims were identified as; Mrs. Ngozi Ibeziakor, Mrs. C.A. Emeribe, Mrs. C. Helen Ezeakor, Mrs. C.A. Ladoye, Mrs. J.A. Onwuzurike, and Mrs. Catherine O. Essien. All six victims were women.

According to the source, the ordeal lasted close to two weeks, during which the victims trekked long distances inside the forest under severe physical strain.

However, two of the women — Mrs. C.A. Emeribe and Mrs. J.A. Onwuzurike — reportedly did not survive, as claimed by sources.

SaharaReporters has not been able to independently verify this claim as of the time of this report.

“I learned they have been released, but two of them unfortunately couldn’t make it,” the source said.

“They died out of exhaustion after trekking from Kogi to Kaduna through the forest. The remaining four are currently undergoing medical examinations.”

The source added that the directors were subjected to harsh conditions throughout their captivity, with limited food, water, and rest, which contributed to the deaths of the two victims.

“They spent almost two weeks with their abductors in the forest. It was a terrible experience,” the source said.

When SaharaReporters contacted Defence Headquarters spokesperson, Brigadier General Samaila, he neither answered his calls nor responded to the message sent to him.

SaharaReporters previously reported that the Federal Ministry of Defence was thrown into panic after gunmen abducted six Directors along the Kabba–Lokoja highway in Kogi State.

The incident reportedly occurred on Monday, November 10, 2025, when the senior officials were travelling from Lagos to Abuja for a Directorate-level promotion examination.

According to security sources, the officials were ambushed by heavily armed men in what has been described as a “well-coordinated attack.”

The abduction has sent shockwaves through the Defence Ministry and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), raising renewed fears about the safety of civil servants travelling for official duties.

In a statement jointly signed by the ASCSN President, Shehu Mohammed, and Secretary-General, Joshua Apebo, the union condemned the attack and assured members that efforts were underway to rescue the victims.

“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 statement said.

“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 ASCSN disclosed that the Ministry of Defence had mobilised its security operatives to take urgent action toward securing the release of the abducted officials.

“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.
“The current security situation and deplorable road conditions expose workers to grave risks.”

The union urged the government to decentralise all promotion and verification exercises to minimise the dangers faced by public servants.

It warned that continued neglect of safety concerns could lead to more tragic incidents.

dre11:
Four Defence Ministry Directors Freed By Terrorists After Weeks As Two Others Feared Killed





https://saharareporters.com/2025/11/22/breaking-four-defence-ministry-directors-freed-terrorists-after-weeks-two-others-feared

Nlfpmod

mascot87:
VOSIMHEN144, I can see you viewing this thread. What do you have to say 🎤

EyeCumInPiece:
I reflected on the picture below and shook my head in shame and disbelief.
Heavily Armed Bandits, some even dressed in army outfits, holding meeting with Nigerian Soldiers and Govt.
At the end, the bandits go home with their guns & possibly with cash settlements.

Indeed Nigeria is a "Disgraced Country"

dre11:
Four Defence Ministry Directors Freed By Terrorists After Weeks As Two Others Feared Killed



https://saharareporters.com/2025/11/22/breaking-four-defence-ministry-directors-freed-terrorists-after-weeks-two-others-feared