Abandoned corpse of Ikwue
By Gboyega Adeoye
Tragedy struck on Thursday as gunmen attacked a vehicle conveying the remains of late Deputy Corps Commander Augustus O. Ikwue, kidnapping the occupants along the Ochadamu–Ejule Road in Benue State.
According to a security report from Ejule Outpost, the vehicle departed Lagos on July 9, 2026, with the body of the senior officer who was being taken home to Otukpo for burial.
At about 5:20pm, the vehicle ran into armed men in Okele community. The assailants forced the mourners out and took them away.
The remains of Deputy Corps Commander Ikwue was abandoned in the vehicle and was later deposited at Ilemona Mortuary in Ejule.
The incident has thrown family, friends, and colleagues of the late officer into deeper grief. Instead of a dignified homecoming, those who set out to give their kinsman a final burial were themselves ambushed and taken captive.
Late DCC Ikwue, a respected officer, died after years of service to the nation. His death was already a heavy loss. Now, the attack on his burial convoy has added pain and fear to the mourning.
Security agencies have been notified and efforts are said to be ongoing to locate the kidnapped mourners and ensure the safe return of the corpse for burial.
The incident along Ochadamu–Ejule, a route that links several communities, has again raised concerns about the safety of travelers and the vulnerability of even funeral processions in parts of the country.
As Otukpo prepares to receive its son, the family and the corps are praying that those abducted will be released unhurt and that the late officer will be laid to rest with the honor he deserves.
