ASUU-DELSU Reacts Over Kidnapped Colleagues, Tasks Delta Govt On Rescue, Insecurity

The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) Delta state University (DELSU),/Abraka chapter have tasked the Delta state Government on incessant kidnap incidence and rescue unharmed of a senior lecturer of the institution, Dr. Boniface Chukwuma Anyanwu and son of another lecturer, Nnamdi Nwachukwu, who were seized over the weekend by unknown gunmen.

BigPen Online had earlier reported that the duo were seized by gunmen at about 3.00 am on Saturday, February 03, 2018 and taken away in the booth of the victim’s car to unknown destination.

Their whereabout remained unknown as at Monday when ASUU confirmed the abduction but the captors have since reach out to the victim’s families demanding N10 million naira each for their release.

In a statement on Monday, confirming the incident, ASUU DELSU chairman, Professor Abel Diakparomre and Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri said that Anyanwu who is of the Department of Theatre Arts and Mr. Nnamdi Nwachukwu, son of another lecturer (Professor Austin Nwachukwu of the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education) were hijacked at their Obiaruku home (a neighbouring community to Abraka).

While expressing sadness over incessant kidnapping incidence of lecturers and/or members of their family, the DELSU ASUU maintained that it was not only unacceptable but bizarre and primitive to kidnap lecturers, and/or members of their family for ransom.

The statement which however called on Delta state Government to leave up to its responsibility of protection of life and properties of citizens, also call on the captors to release the victims unconditionally.

The statement read in part: “Academics, all over the world, are the springboard of society’s growth and development. This is so because of their role in imparting knowledge to persons who later become builders of societies. A society that has no respect for intellectual resource is destined for doom and damnation.

“The security of lecturers, and indeed every citizen, rests squarely on the shoulders of Government. Indeed, it is a primary responsibility of Government to protect lives and properties of citizens. The Government of Delta State cannot shy away from this responsibility.

“We, members of the academic community in Abraka, had thought that the era of kidnapping, especially the kidnapping of Delta State University lecturers, which was very pervasive some years back, had become a thing of the past.

“The resurgence of this criminal activity cannot be tolerated or allowed to fester. Apart from the danger to the individual lecturers, it is a total disgrace to the nation’s image and the psyche of the populace. It is hardly heard of, anywhere in the world, that University lecturers are maltreated, let alone kidnapped.

“It is on record that Nigerian lecturers are among the most sought after intellectuals in the world. Many of these have however chosen to remain in Nigeria to contribute to their quota to the reinventing and regeneration of our society in spite of the not very conducive environment in which they work and the lean wages.

“To have hoodlums wanting to squeeze them further through kidnap is crossing the threshold. It is pathetic that the extremely patriotic ones who have chosen to stay behind to help build the nation are being picked for ransom by criminally-minded persons and groups.The solution to all these lies squarely with Government.

“We, therefore, call on the Delta State Government, and all the security agencies, to save us from the tyranny of these persons with warp perception of contemporary society and especially intervene in this debacle and quickly set in motion operations for the immediate rescue of Dr. Anyanwu and Mr. Nwachukwu from the hands of their abductors.

“We also call on the generality of Deltans to assist in the rescue of these hapless and harmless citizens who are themselves victims of the current socio-economic quagmire that the country has found itself.

“ASUU-DELSU demands that Dr. Boniface Anyanwu and Mr. Nnamdi Nwachukwu be rescued immediately from their abductors or released by the kidnappers without harm and unconditionally immediately.