Gunmen attacked the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) staff quarters on Tuesday morning, abducting a professor of Economics, Obansa Joseph, and two of his children, among others.
The gunmen stormed the senior staff quarters at Giri in the Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at 1 a.m. on Tuesday, according to a source and a resident of the quarters who requested anonymity.
As of the time of filing this report, the names of the professor’s two children who were also kidnapped could not be established.
The other victims, according to PREMIUM TIMES, included individuals just identified as “Barrister John, Fidelis, and Mallam Sambo” by the source.
Habib Yakoob, a spokesman for the university, verified the news, stating the victim’s number about six.
“Yes, I just confirmed that the information is true. Apart from the professor and his children, a non-academic staffer was also involved. They are about six victims,” Mr. Yakoob said.
However, he noted that security personnel have been dispatched to ensure their safety.
“They are on their trail,” the spokesman said on the phone.
The victim, Mr. Obansa, is described as a “distinguished economist of repute”.
He is currently a sitting Professor of Economics at the university and a Visiting Professor of Economics at Veritas University, also in Abuja.
Mr. Obansa is an alumnus of the University of Abuja and the University of Lagos, whose research interest includes Health Economics and Quantitative Economic Analysis.
He has published extensively in reputable national and international journals and has served in several management and Administrative capacities within the University of Abuja.
The FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, had yet to respond to phone inquiries about the attack at the time of reporting this story.
As security operatives attempt to stem the increase, virtually every section of the country is experiencing worsening instability and a spike in crimes.
Ada Peter
