The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi has confirmed the abduction of two of its personnel by gunmen along the Abakaliki-Enugu federal highway.

The road has recently become nightmarish for commuters due to incessant abductions by gunmen. The most affected are the Nkalagu (Ebonyi) and Idodo (Enugu) axes of the road.

The sector commander of the FRSC in Ebonyi, Henry Igwe, told journalists on Tuesday in Abakaliki that both personnel were abducted on March 8.

Mr Igwe remarked that both personnel concluded their duties at the corps’ Nkalagu office and were abducted as they returned to Enugu.

He said the corps contacted their families, who informed them that the officers had yet to return home.

“The families said that some people contacted them that they were kidnappers and were demanding ransom.

“The negotiations are between the families and kidnappers, and as an organisation, we have been doing the much we can,” he said.

The sector commander said his office had informed its headquarters of the development and formally reported to relevant security agencies.

He noted that it had not been established that the personnel were either alive or dead, but the fact remained that they had not been seen.

Jude Okpor, Ebonyi Commissioner for Information and Orientation, dismissed the insinuation that the state government was nonchalant about the situation.

“The matter has inter-state connectivity, and the government has initiated measures with its affected sister state to nip it in the bud,” he said.

DSP Joshua Ukandu, the police public relations officer in Ebonyi, urged families of victims to report such incidents to the command so that it can establish whether the incident happened at the Ebonyi axis of the road.

“The situation is more of an Enugu issue, and information on it should be sought from the Enugu command of the force.

“I believe some steps are being taken to combat it, but our safer highway teams stationed on the affected axis always assist commuters in crossing safely from the area,” he said.

(NAN)