Again, Gunmen Kidnap UNIJOS Lecturer In Plateau

A group of unidentified gunmen has kidnapped a lecturer at the University of Jos in Plateau State.

Reports reaching Naija News a moment ago confirmed that Dr Dan Ella was abducted at his home situated at Haske quarters in Lamingo community, Jos North Local Government Area of the state

Records had it that Haske quarters, behind Stanel Oil, is the same community where gunmen last month kidnapped a Professor and her husband who were later released after paying a ransom.

A member of the community, Philip Gyang who confirmed the latest abduction to reporters revealed that the lecturer with the Department of Theatre Arts in the institution was abducted by the assailants in the early hours of Wednesday.

Gyang disclosed further that the gunmen arrived in the community around 2 am on Wednesday and headed straight to the apartment of the lecturer and whisked him away after forcefully gaining access to his house with gunshots to prevent his rescue from residents who were already terrified.

“What happened last night in Haske quarters was terrible. It was the sounds of gunshots that woke us up around 2am. But we could not come out when it became clear that Haske quarters was under attack by gunmen,” the source revealed.

He added: “So, this morning when everyone came out, we discovered that they had taken Dr. Dan Ella away after breaking into their house. It’s really painful because this thing is happening again in the same place where a professor and her husband were kidnapped in similar circumstances last month and Dr Ella who is their neighbour was the one running around to make sure that the kidnapped husband and wife were rescued. And now, he is the one that has been abducted and no one knows where they have taken him to.”

Confirming the incident to newsmen earlier, the Chairman of the University of Jos branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr Lazarus Maigoro said, “It’s true because I just received an official report on the kidnap of one of our members in Lamingo Area last night. I’m preparing a press release on the incident.

“Something has to be done about this kidnapping of innocent people because it’s really sad and should not be allowed to continue.”

However, the Police Public Relations Officer in Plateau State, Ubah Ogaba, could not respond to calls from reporters who called to confirm the incident.

Meanwhile, Naija News reports that Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has visited the families of last weekend’s attacks by Fulani herdsmen in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government.

Addressing residents of the community during the visit, the governor assured that his government would empower local security groups including the vigilantes, adding up with other measures already in place to put an end to insecurity in Ibarapaland.

Makinde vowed to do everything within his powers to safeguard the lives of residents of the state. A statement delivered to newsmen by Taiwo Adisa, Chief Press Secretary to Makinde, quoted the governor lamenting the loss of lives in the region as a result of attacks by Fulani herdsmen.