ASUU commends community over release of abducted UNIBEN lecturers, students
The University of Benin chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday commended the heroic role played by the people of Ikpeshi in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo state in securing the release of lecturers and students of the institution allegedly abducted by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Chairman of the chapter, Prof. Monday Joy Omoregie, gave the commendation in a statement signed by him and the chapter Secretary, Dr. Fabian Amaechina, and made available to newsmen in Benin.
He said that but for the timely intervention of the people of the community who came to the rescue of the abducted lecturers and students, it would have been a tale of woe for the university community and the families of the abducted victims.
“We place on record the heroic role played by the Ikpeshi Community who rose to the challenge by responding in a way that resulted in the rescue of the abducted students and their lecturers.
“We salute the community’s courage and patriotism and recommend their action to other besieged communities. Their reaction only proves that we are stronger together. Perhaps, but for their role and support, it would have been a tale of woes,” the ASUU said.
The union said the abduction of the staff and students of Nigerian universities by this faceless group has become a trend, since a similar incident had happened in the time past when some staff of the institution went for field work and were kidnapped, but later released by their abductors after the payment of ransom.
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The statement added that the kidnapping of some academic staff of the University of Maiduguri by Boko Haram and the latest incident are enough reasons for the federal government to address the security challenges in the country.
According to the ASUU leaders, the abduction of lecturers and students who have now become soft targets for criminals has the potentialof hindering research which is at the heart of development.
“This is a virus that needs to be exterminated because of the negative multiplier effects it can have on education and the larger development of the nation,” the statement submitted.
It added that if researches cannot undertake field works because of the challenge of insecurity, then the educational sector and the whole concept of national development will be on borrowed time.
