Rivers State: Kidnapped lecturer rescued, medical doctor abducted

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

The abducted lecturer in the Department of Science and Laboratory Technology of Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, Abiye Ogan, has been rescued by security agents.

He was rescued last night.

The lecturer, it was gathered, was not in sound health at the time of his release.

Ferry Gberegbe, the Chairman of Academic Staff Union Of Polytechnic (ASUP) of Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic who confirmed the release of Abiye Ogan said: “We thank God for his release and the efforts of security agents who ensured his release last night due to credible information gathering and successful rescue operation by the security agents.”

”As I speak to you, he has reunited with his family in Okrika but he is not hearing well due to the beating he received from his abductors who tried to force him to pay ransom.”

Following his release, Gberegbe has directed lecturers of the institution who went on strike in solidarity with their kidnapped colleague to resume work on Monday, July 4.

Ogan was kidnapped at about 11pm on Sunday, June 26, while resting in his home in Bori, Headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The ASUP chairman described the kidnap as “barbaric and unacceptable for a Lecturer who has just finished his biometric exercise to authenticate his status as a bonafide staff of the polytechnic. He was yet to be paid salary before his abduction. This is the highest point of wickedness”, ASUP chairman said.

In a related development, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, the Rivers State branch, has given a 24-hour ultimatum to the authorities for the release of their kidnapped colleague, Dr Chukwuemeka Agi.

The Chairman of the Association, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH, branch, Dr Lucky Onotayi, said nothing had been done about the doctor more than 72 hours after he was kidnapped.

“We, as a group, condemn the kidnap of our colleague. He is not a moneybag, politician or business man. He is just a public servant who has nothing to offer apart from medical expertise. We therefore appeal to the kidnappers to release our colleague unconditionally or else we will have no option but to down tools.”

He called on the security agencies to redouble their efforts to ensure the immediate release of Dr Chukwuemeka Agi.

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