Bandits invade UniAbuja, abduct four staff, children

*as Police fortify security, reassures residents of safety

Ukpono Ukpong

No fewer than four staff of the University of Abuja along with their children have been reportedly abducted by armed gunmen suspected to be bandits.

According to a report posted on the University’s official Facebook page, the gunmen attacked the staff quarters of the institution in the early hours of Tuesday.

“Suspected bandits attacked the staff quarters of the University in the early hours of today.

“Our Safety officers, in conjunction with security personnel, mobilised to secure the quarters.

“We have reported that four of our staff and their children were, nevertheless, abducted by the evil men.

“Efforts are being made to ensure their safe return. A sad day for us, indeed!” the statement read in parts

Reacting to the incident, the Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, Professor Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, has assured that the efforts were being made to ensure the safe return of the kidnapped persons.

As part of security measures to forestall future occurrence, the Vice Chancellor ordered that henceforth, all staff and students must wear their official UniAbuja ID cards when entering any of the campuses including the Giri Quarters as those who flout the directive will be denied access to such facilities

“My dear University Community, they brought their devastation to our Giri Quarters and we are pursuing them with all it takes to recover our dearest ones they kidnapped. Our nation is definitely bleeding and this is too close home for us！

“Please pray hard for God’s intervention. One thing is certain, we shall continue to mobilize everything available to us to protect staff and students and ensure this never happens again.

“From now on, it is compulsory for staff and students to wear their official UniAbuja ID cards when entering ANY of our campuses including the Giri Quarters.

The Safety Unit has my instruction to turn anyone back who cannot explain their mission on our campus, Quarters or any UniAbuja branches even if they claim to be staff or students, only University ID card worn on them is a guarantee for entry. We shall overcome it!” He said.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Babaji Sunday has dispatched additional tactical and conventional policing resources to the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) main and satellite campuses as well as the staff quarters and other affiliate formations of the university, to fortify security, improve public safety and protect citizens in and around the university community.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, the order follows a report that some yet to be identified armed criminals invaded the UNIABUJA Staff Quarters located at the GIRI area of the FCT in the early hours of today, November 2.

The Police Commissioner noted that a combined team of the Police and personnel of the Nigerian Army 176 Guards Battalion were swiftly mobilized to the area to protect the citizens.

“Preliminary investigations however revealed that six (6) persons were allegedly abducted into the forest by the criminals on sighting the security operatives.”

While calling for calm, the Commissioner further noted that the security forces are already working with the locals in the area toward rescuing the victims.

He assured that the perpetrators would be arrested and brought to book.

“On this note, the Command pledges its undeterred resolve to ensure lives and properties of residents within the FCT are protected and urge them to report all suspicious movements, emergency or distress, through these numbers: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883.”

Although, the report was still sketchy as at the time of filing this report, those abducted from the UniAbuja invasion were identified as Prof. Bassey Ubom (including his son and daughter), Prof. Obansa, Malam Sambo Mohammed and Dr. Tobit.