-FUTO Management Raises Alarm Of Disappearance Of Students
The activities of dare devil kidnappers suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, around Avu, Obinze, Ihiagwa and other neighbouring communities that have been on the front burner of public discourse for some time now, without solution, seems to have assumed a frightening dimension, as residents of the area who have become endangered species are crying out for help.
An eyewitness who narrated what she described as a harrowing experience, said, on Saturday last week, they double crossed a young man who works in one of the ministries at the state secretariat with their car and abducted him. They reportedly took him to their camp.
The young man who, by a stroke of luck managed to escape, said, he identified one of the kidnappers as his course mate at the University of Calabar several years ago. The said course mate, out of compassion, facilitated his escape.
He also narrated how many victims were slaughtered like fowls in the presence of stern looking men dressed in police and army uniforms trooping in and out of the kidnappers den at intervals”.
Some residents who spoke on the condition of anonymity wondered why and how the kidnappers have continuously operated with boldness and unhindered despite the number of checkpoints, predominance of security operatives in the area, including the 34 Field Artillery Brigade, Obinze, The new Imo state police headquarters built by former Governor, Rochas Okorocha, among others.
They also alleged that there is the possibility that they are working hand in gloves with some top and powerful security operatives who shield and give them coverage, hence they operate fearlessly.
Continuing, they said, living around this vicinity has become a nightmare, as one can no longer move around freely once it is 7 pm. They sometimes, brazenly abduct all passengers in a vehicle and collect ransom ranging from two to five million Naira, while some unlucky ones disappear without trace. The situation has become so alarming that most residents are relocating from the affected communities while some refuse to park in, no matter the necessity or prompting.
They called on the state government and relevant security agencies to rise up to the occasion before the people are completely annihilated.
Worried by this sad development,Management of Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), has issued a strong safety advisory in response to a growing number of kidnapping incidents near the university’s main gate.
In a statement signed by the Registrar, Chiedozie Uba, on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, the university warned students to exercise caution, particularly around the Obinze-Ihiagwa Road, where the incidents are most prevalent during early morning and late evening hours.
Students have been advised to limit movement outside the campus between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. in order to reduce the chances of encountering kidnappers.
The university also stressed the importance of heightened awareness and recommended that students regularly inform their families of their locations for added security.
This advisory comes in response to multiple reports of student abductions near the main entrance, raising concerns among parents and the wider university community. FUTO’s management has called for strict adherence to these safety measures to ensure the protection of its students.
