Gunmen break into ABU staff quarters, abduct lecturer and wife

A senior lecturer of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna state, has been abducted alongside his wife and daughter.

The lecturer simply identified as Bako, is said to be of the department of physiology.

A source told TheCable that the attackers broke into the residence of Bako in the early hours of Monday.

In a statement, Awwalu Umaru, a spokesman of the university, confirmed the incident.

“At about 12:50am 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 statement read.

“The University 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 Kasuwar Da‘a village bordering the University, the kidnappers then released the wife and the daughter and went away with the husband. Some empty shells were recovered from the scene.”

Awwalu said Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police and other security agencies have been informed of the incident.

The incident comes 24 hours after eight ABU students regained freedom after one week in captivity.

A source told TheCable that they were released after their parents paid various amounts ranging between N500,000 and N4 million as ransom.

The students were abducted along Abuja-Kaduna expressway while on their way to the Nigerian French Village, Badagry, Lagos for a programme.