Six directors of the Federal Ministry of Defence have been abducted by bandits along the Kabba–Lokoja highway in Kogi state. The officials were said to be travelling from Lagos to Abuja on Monday for a directorate-level promotion examination when they were attacked.

Security sources described the incident as a “well-coordinated ambush” by heavily armed men.

The development has triggered apprehension within the ministry and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), raising fresh concerns over the safety of workers on official travel.

In a statement signed by Shehu Mohammed, ASCSN president, and Joshua Apebo, secretary-general, the union condemned the abduction and said efforts were underway to rescue the victims.

The union identified those abducted as Ngozi Ibeziakor, C.A. Emeribe, Helen Ezeakor, C.A. Ladoye, J.A. Onwuzurike, and Catherine O. Essien.

The statement said the directors, who are staff of Command Day Secondary School (CDSS), Ojo, Lagos, were travelling by road to Abuja when they were kidnapped.

The union said the defence ministry had already mobilised security agencies to commence rescue operations.

Part of the statement read: “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 current security situation and deplorable road conditions expose workers to grave risks.”

The union called on the government to decentralise all promotion and verification exercises to reduce dangers faced by civil servants.

Officials in the Ministry of Defence confirmed that security teams had been deployed to comb suspected hideouts in Kogi.

The union urged security agencies to “leave no stone unturned” to ensure the safe release of the abducted officers.