In a chilling reminder of the growing insecurity on Nigeria’s highways, Innocent Ogbu, a senior officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), has been abducted alongside 15 other passengers.
The victims were traveling in a commercial bus along the Lokoja-Enugu road on Saturday when gunmen intercepted their journey.
Ogbu, a deputy superintendent of corrections and the unit commander of the armed squad wing at the Minna old medium-security custodial center, was en route to Enugu for a professional development course at the NCoS Correctional Training School.
This latest incident adds to a growing list of attacks targeting public servants in the line of duty.
Just months earlier, Abdulrahamam Ibrahim Gelele, a controller of corrections in Niger state, was kidnapped along the Ilorin-Minna road.
The repeated abductions raise questions about the safety of officials traveling Nigeria’s roads and highlight the urgent need for enhanced security measures.
Rabiu Shuaibu, spokesperson for the NCoS Niger command, confirmed the attack in a statement on Monday, adding that security agencies, including the police and DSS, have been informed.
The abductors have reportedly contacted Ogbu’s family, demanding a ransom of ₦10 million.
The Lokoja-Enugu route, like many other major Nigerian highways, has gained a reputation for being a hotspot for kidnappings and violent crime.
Despite efforts to combat insecurity, travelers frequently fall victim to ambushes, with armed gangs targeting commercial buses and private vehicles alike.
Security experts argue that the recurring incidents expose gaps in law enforcement and the need for increased surveillance and rapid response mechanisms.
The Nigerian Correctional Service, in coordination with other security agencies, is working to secure their release.
However, families of the abducted remain in a state of anguish, waiting for a resolution.
As the nation grapples with the dual challenge of curbing highway crime and safeguarding its officials, stakeholders continue to call for swift and decisive action to restore confidence in Nigeria’s roadways.
For now, the fate of Innocent Ogbu and his fellow passengers remains uncertain, a stark reminder of the precarious reality of traveling in parts of the country.