The Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, long notorious for kidnappings, witnessed yet another disturbing incident as Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Modestus Ojiebe was abducted in broad daylight. The unsettling reality of Nigeria’s security crisis played out near the Dei-Dei Police Barracks in Abuja, where Ojiebe’s routine journey turned into a nightmare.
He had pulled over to fix his broken-down vehicle when an ash-colored Mercedes-Benz suddenly stopped behind him. The four armed men inside didn’t just rob Ojiebe and his wife of their phones and ATM cards, they soon discovered his police identity card. In an instant, the situation escalated. The officers, once an enforcer of security, became a victim himself. The gunmen forced him into their vehicle and disappeared, leaving his wife and their car stranded by the roadside.
The abduction of a high-ranking police officer has raised fresh concerns about Nigeria’s security infrastructure. If those tasked with protecting the people can fall prey to criminals in such a brazen manner, what does that mean for the average citizen?
Authorities have launched an investigation, but the silence surrounding similar cases in the past leaves many Nigerians skeptical. On social media, reactions range from outrage to despair. “If a CSP can be kidnapped in broad daylight, then who is safe?” one user lamented. Others call for an urgent overhaul of security along major highways, demanding real action rather than recycled promises.
As search efforts intensify, Ojiebe’s case highlights the grim reality of life on Nigerian highways—where travelers pray to make it to their destinations, and kidnappers strike with alarming ease.
