A senior lecturer of the Delta State University, Abraka, Dr Boniface Anyanwu has reunited with his family hours after he was kidnapped by gunmen alongside a son of his colleague.
Dr. Anyanwu and son of one Professor Augustine Nwachukwu were kidnapped on Saturday night by gunmen at his residence in Obiaruku near Abraka, Delta State.
It was reported that the kidnapped lecturer, who is said to be asthmatic, was forced into his Toyota Camry and whisked away to an unknown destination.
Another senior lecturer of the institution who confirmed Boniface Anyanwu’s kidnap on Monday said the hoodlums had contacted the family of the lecturer and demanded N20 million for their release.
The lecturer who spoke under the condition of anonymity said they were worried about his health adding that the gunmen didn’t allow him to take his drugs. The Delta State Academic Staff Union of Universities on Monday confirmed the abduction of the lecturer in a statement.
The statement read:
“The latest of these incidents is the kidnap of one of our lecturers, Dr. Boniface Chukwuma Anyanwu, a Senior Lecturer in 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) who live at Obiaruku (a neighbouring community to Abraka). This incident occurred at about 3.00 am on Saturday, February 03, 2018.
“The kidnap victims were taken away in the booth of Dr. Boniface Anyanwu’s car. The kidnappers have since made contact with the families of the kidnap victims demanding Ten Million Naira ransom for the release of each of the victims. This is totally unacceptable.
“The kidnap of lecturers, and/or members of their family, is not only unacceptable, it is bizarre and primitive. 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.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Mr. Andrew Aniamaka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the State Police Command had already launched a manhunt for the kidnappers and assured school that the victims would be rescued unhurt.
