Dr. Mercy Mokobia’s whereabouts still unknown five months after kidnap
*We have arrested suspects—Police
Abraka—THERE has been palpable tension in Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, Delta State in the past few months over the wave of abduction of lecturers by suspected kidnappers.

Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Mordi told Vanguard that lecturers were particularly disturbed, as educators are not millionaires, but the gunmen keep attacking them.

In the last two years, he said over 20 members had been abducted, but what has troubled the academic community more in recent times, was the kidnap of a lecturer of Department of Science Education, Dr. (Mrs.) Mercy Mokobia, from her nuptial home in Obiaruku, since April 9 without trace by the Police.

Indeed, during his visit to the university, some months ago, the vice-chancellor, Professor Eric Arubayi, told Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, that the university was under siege.

Mordi said in most of the previous kidnap cases, it was demand for ransom by abductors, after which the victims regained freedom.

However, in Dr. Mokobia’s case, they demanded, it was paid, yet, she was not released.

He said: “Lecturers have their hearts in their mouths because we do not know who will be kidnapped next and nobody is comfortable doing his work here.

“As a matter of fact, the academic staff of DELSU are demanding the release of their colleague; we are going to embark on a fresh strike after the current nationwide strike action to protest the failure of the police to secure her release.

“We are not safe here if some gunmen can come to the home of our colleague and kidnap her and for almost five months, the police have no answer to her whereabouts, that is our plight, we are lecturers, we are not politicians, our duty is to teach students and do research, why are kidnappers after us.

“Academics are not money bags but law abiding, knowledgeable citizens who sacrifice day and night, all their comfort to impact knowledge and skills to Nigerian youths so as to equip them to become useful members of the society who can perpetuate human civilization.”

How gunmen abducted Mokobia
Gunmen kidnapped Dr. (Mrs.) Mokobia, whose husband, Prof. Mokobia, is also a staff of the university, between 12.00 am and 1.00 am, Tuesday, April 9, in Obiaruku. They broke into their residential apartment.

The couple was reportedly sleeping when the hoodlums struck in a commando style and took away the female lecturer. They contacted the family two days after the incident through a close associate demanding N20 million ransom for her release.
According to Dr. Mordi, “They robbed the family after which they took her along on foot to an unknown destination. Her whereabouts has since remained unknown

“Until her kidnap, there was a lull in the kidnapping of our members and their spouses, which gave lecturers at DELSU a false sense of security.”

Suspicion
A security source said: “It is either an insider or somebody that knows the family was involved in the kidnap because they robbed the family and still abducted her.”

The source stated: “In fact, an artisan who has worked for the family before is believed to be working with the kidnappers.”

“Some 12 hours before the incident, some motor cycle, popularly known as Okada riders were seen near the vicinity of the Mokobias discharging some unidentified passengers,” our source added.

Following security report on the activities of kidnappers in the area, who found it easy operating with motorcycles, the state government, after the incident, banned the use of Okada for commercial transportation in Abraka, Kokori and other parts of Ethiope East Local Government.


- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/kidnappers-lay-siege-to-delta-varsity-over-20-lecturers-kidnapped/#sthash.k4jE18C0.5SozjgZN.dpuf

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/kidnappers-lay-siege-to-delta-varsity-over-20-lecturers-kidnapped
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