Gunmen have reportedly abandoned the corpse of Deputy Corps Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, officer, Augustine O. Ikwue, popularly known as ‘Etume Zero’ and abducted mourners escorting the remains of the late official in a motorcade to his hometown in Benue State for his burial.
The incident occurred after the convoy ran into an ambush along the Ososo–Ajaokuta axis of Kogi State in Kogi State on Saturday, according to multiple reports, which also said the abductors have opened a back channel with family of the hostages and placed N50 million bounty on the hostages.
According to citizen journalist and activist Meddy Olotu, the gunmen intercepted the funeral procession, abducted the mourners along with the corpse, and forced them into the bush.
Olotu hinted that the kidnappers later abandoned the body, which was subsequently recovered around Ejule in Kogi State. The abducted mourners, however, remain in captivity.
Describing the incident as heartbreaking, he decried the worsening insecurity in the country, saying even the dead are no longer allowed to “rest in peace.”
“What kind of country are we living in? Even the dead cannot rest in peace,” he said.
He urged security agencies and relevant authorities to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted mourners and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The late Deputy Corps Commander Augustine O. Ikwue was scheduled to be buried on Friday in Ai-Ode, Upu Community, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, before the tragic attack disrupted the funer
al procession.
