Kidnapped UNN Lecturer Regains Freedom

UNN Lecturer Freed, Investigation Ongoing

“The suspects, after an intense gun duel, fled with gunshot wounds, abandoning one AK-47 rifle...”

UNN Lecturer Kidnapped, Escapes Captors in Enugu State - Professor Oguejiofo Ujam Regains Freedom

Professor Oguejiofo Ujam, a senior lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has regained his freedom after being kidnapped. According to reports, Ujam escaped from his captors in the Ninth Mile area of Enugu State.

The lecturer was initially abducted along the Ugwuogo-Opi Nsukka Road. In a related development, the Enugu Police Command foiled another kidnap attempt on the same road on Monday, October 28, just 24 hours after Ujam's abduction.

Enugu Police Command's Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed both incidents in a statement released on Tuesday, October 29. The police continue to investigate and enhance security measures to prevent future incidents.

Developments:

Kidnapping: Prof. Oguejiofo Ujam abducted along Ugwuogo-Opi Nsukka Road

Escape: Ujam escaped from captors in Ninth Mile area, Enugu State

Foiled Kidnap Attempt: Police prevented another abduction on same road 24 hours later

Police Confirmation: Enugu Police Command's PPRO, Daniel Ndukwe, verified the incidents

Ndukwe said, “Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command attached to Unity Division foiled a suspected kidnapping attempt on Monday, October 28, 2024 around 7:10 p.m at the Neke-Uno axis of the Enugu/Opi/Nsukka Road.

“The suspects, after an intense gun duel, fled with gunshot wounds, abandoning one AK-47 rifle, two magazines containing a total of 22 rounds and a chain of 39 live ammunition.

“Further operations to track down the fleeing suspects that same night led to the escape of a lecturer from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who had reportedly been kidnapped on October 26, 2024.”

While assuring commuters that the road was safe, Ndukwe said, “the Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, has ordered the deployment of additional personnel and resources to bolster both overt and covert police operations along the Enugu/Opi/Nsukka Road, reassuring the public of security and safety on the road and across th State.”

The Enugu State Police Command has debunked reports of a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officer being kidnapped while traveling from Benue State. According to the Command, there's no record of such an incident occurring anywhere in Enugu State.

This clarification comes on the heels of the Command's successful operation that foiled a kidnap attempt along the Enugu/Opi/Nsukka Road on Monday, October 28. During the operation, Professor Oguejiofo Ujam, the Dean of School of General Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, managed to escape from his abductors.

The Police have reassured citizens that the Enugu/Opi/Nsukka Road is safe for travelers, contrary to claims suggesting otherwise. They've also urged the public to disregard misleading information and instead rely on credible sources for updates on security situations in the State.