UNIABUJA Says No Ransom Paid For Rescued Abducted Staff

By Akinwale Kasali

The Management of the University of Abuja, UNIABUJA, has revealed that the abducted Staff menbere of the Institution, alongside their Children were released without any ransom paid.

The Institution through its Public Relations Officer, Habib Yakoob, disclosed how the three senior staff members of the institution and their children were rescued from their kidnappers, saying that contrary to the earlier demand of N300 Million by their abductors, not a dime was paid.

The staff and their children were kidnapped by suspected bandits from the Giri Quarters of the University in the early hours of Tuesday, November 2, 2021.

Yakoob in a statement  Friday October 5, 2021, said the victims were rescued following the operations of the combined security forces, including the Department of State Services, military, police and University of Abuja Safety Officers.

The statement partly reads:

“The victims were rescued following the operations of the combined security forces including the police, DSS, Military, and University of Abuja Safety Officers.

“Though the abductors earlier demanded payment of three hundred million (N300, 000,000) naira ransom, our staff were rescued without any payment at all.

“The University management expresses gratitude to God Almighty; the joint forces, including military, DSS, University of Abuja safety officers for the unconditional release of our staff.

“At the moment, the University community is in wild jubilation as staff and students are congratulating and hugging themselves for this good news.

“The Management of the University is also grateful to all our staff, well-meaning Nigerians, who empathized with us in that moment of tribulation and trial. Without your relentless prayers and support, we might still be in a terrible mood.

“The Management restates its commitment to providing adequate security to the University community and will continue to work with security operatives to prevent a repeat of that ugly incident.”

The body of Vice-Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors of Universities has extended its appreciation to security agencies for the release of the academics and their children.