From Tony John, Port Harcourt
GUNMEN have kidnapped a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Ebi Awortu Efebo and two teachers of Community Secondary School in Ubima in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Prof. Efebo, who was a former Dean of Faculty of Education Technology, was kidnapped on Monday evening, with his driver, while he was going home.
A source at the university confirmed the incident to Daily Sun, adding that the kidnappers had demanded N50 million ransom.
The source further said the school had appealed to the abductors to release the victim, as he has health challenges, to enable him take his medical treatment.
Also, the two secondary school teachers, identified as Blessing Chukwu and Ikpendu Samuel, were abducted Monday evening, by unknown gunmen, while returning from school.
It was gathered that the gang has contacted the victims’ families and demanded the sum of N5 million ransom.
A teacher at the school, Sunday Onu, confirmed the abduction, saying that the victims left school premises together and were accosted on their way home by gunmen, who emerged from bush and took them to an unknown destination.
He said teachers posted to the school were aware of the security challenges in the community and had called on government and security agencies to come to their aid in the community.
“We are not happy over the abduction of the newly posted teachers; we were still in the school around 4:30pm when we heard sounds of gun. When we came out to see what was happening, the abductors have taken them away.
“We are calling on the state government to provide security in this community if they still want us to continue coming to the school. The rate of kidnapping and killing in this community is unbearable”.
Ubima, which is the home of the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, has been besieged by cultists in the past six months.
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), has confirmed the incident in Ubima to journalists.