From Esther Akaa, Lafia
Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a staff of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria to an unknown destination.
A statement issued by the Director, Public Affairs Directorate, Malam Auwalu Umar, says the victim was kidnapped alongside his wife and daughter at his residence on Sardauna Crescent Area B2, Main Campus Samaru, Zaria at about 12:50am on Monday.
The statement revealed that a team of security agencies, shortly after receiving the information, launched an attack on the gunmen which led to the release of both his wife and daughter.
The statement read in parts: “At about 12:50 am on Monday, 23rd November, 2020, kidnappers invaded the house of a staff member of the university on Sardauna Crescent, Area BZ, Main Campus, Samaru, Zaria. They went away with him along with his wife and daughter.
“The unit security division quickly informed the operatives of the police intelligence Response Team that advanced to the scene, following the distress call. There was an exchange of fire between the kidnappers and the mobile police operatives. When it was clear that they would be overpowered, the kidnappers ran into the bush along with the victims.
“As the police went after them, up to Kasuwa Da’a village bordering the university, the kidnappers then released the wife and the daughter and went away with the husband.”
The statement further said that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Adamu Mohammed and other security agencies, as well as all relevant government establishment have been informed of the unfortunate incident.
It concluded that the Vice Chancellor of the university urged the university community to remain calm and vigilant to avoid reocurrence of the sad event.
It would be recalled that recently, nine (9) students of the university, while traveling to Lagos for an academic programme, were kidnapped and only released after a million naira each was paid as ransom to secure their release.