UniUyo Staff, Students Strike Over Abduction Of Professor

Uyo, Jan 27, (THEWILL) – As long as the abductors of Professor Memfin Ekpo continue to hold him captive, activities at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State will remain grounded as students and staff of the institution including medical workers at the teaching hospital attached to the school have vowed to down tools in protest of his continued captivity.

The Associate Professor of Pathology and husband of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo was abducted by four unknown gunmen in a church in Uyo last weekend and has since not regained his freedom, even as the abductors who have established contact with members of his family are demanding a ransom of N20 million for his release.

THEWILL gathered that the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Comfort Ekpo has also gone underground after her husband’s abductors had threatened to also kidnap her if the ransom is delayed any further.

The University Governing Council in its response to abduction has called for definite steps by all concerned, including government at all levels and opinion leaders to address the state of insecurity in the university, warning that it may become impossible for the institution to attain the excellence it was established to achieve.

The council which rose from a special meeting presided over by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Dr. Shem Z. Nuhu expressed worries over the security situation on campus and its environs, noting that the atmosphere of insecurity has impeded productivity and academic activities in the institution.

Meanwhile, some student union government officials, including the SUG President, comrade Udoma Essien who were assaulted by policemen of the mobile unit during a protest to Government House over the insecurity on campus and the state are receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in the capital city.