A professor at Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, has been abducted by gunmen in a raid that eyewitnesss likened to a guerrilla operation. occurred on Thursday evening in Agbeji, a suburb of Anyigba in Dekina Local Government Area, Kogi State.
The kidnappers have reportedly demanded a ransom of N10 million for the release of Professor John Ebeh, a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy.
In a report by Daily Trust, the abduction took place around 7 pm when the assailants, numbering several, stormed the professor’s residence. Witnesses described the operation as swift and carried out in a manner resembling a commando-style raid. The gunmen fired sporadically in the air to instill fear, after which they abducted Professor Ebeh, who was returning home from town at the time.
According to a local resident, the professor’s vehicle was blocked by a car that suddenly pulled up in front of his house. As he tried to make his way through the gate, masked individuals emerged from their hiding spots and began shooting. Amid the chaos, the professor’s car was forced to stop, and the abductors took him at gunpoint, swiftly driving away with him.
“He had even given out signal to his people to open the gate of his house when some people emerged suddenly from their hideout, and started shooting sporadically,” a resident said.
A family source revealed that the kidnappers contacted the family on Friday night, demanding N10 million in exchange for Professor Ebeh’s release. This shocking event has left the university community in disbelief, with many expressing their concerns over the growing insecurity in the region.
Although the university has yet to issue an official statement on the abduction, some colleagues of the professor have expressed their support and sympathies to the family. The incident has cast a shadow over the university and raised questions about the safety of citizens in the area.
The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer has not responded to inquiries regarding the abduction, leaving the situation shrouded in uncertainty. Authorities have yet to provide details about their efforts to locate and rescue the professor, leaving the community anxiously awaiting further developments.