The deputy vice-chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu, has been kidnapped by gunmen.
The victim, Godwin Emezue, was abducted from a petrol station at Umuekwule, Amachara, a community in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, south-east Nigeria.
Mr Emelue, a professor, was said to have driven into the station alongside his wife to buy fuel for their vehicle on Friday night when the gunmen attacked them.
Reports have it that the hoodlums, numbering about three, dragged the professor into their waiting Lexus SUV, collected his wife’s ATM card and drove off.
The police in Abia State have confirmed the incident.
In a statement on Saturday, the police spokesperson in the state, Maureen Chinaka, said the incident happened at about 9:30 p.m. on Friday.
“The Abia State Police Command is deploying resources and assets including intelligence and technical aid towards unravelling the crime, safely rescuing the victim from his captors,” Ms Chinaka, an assistant superintendent of police, assured.
The police spokesperson asked residents of the state to remain calm, vigilant and security conscious while going about their legitimate activities.
She appealed to the residents to cooperate with the police by providing “useful information” that could help in tracking down the hoodlums as well as enhancing security in the state.
