By Ovat Abeng
A student in the Department of Science Education, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Unizik) Awka, Anambra State, Ms Francisca Chioma, has been reportedly kidnapped in the State.
It was gathered that the student was kidnapped while en route to a burial ceremony in a village outside Awka, on Friday.
According to a close friend and schoolmate who preferred anonymity, Chioma’s whereabouts have remained a mystery since Friday.
There are growing fears that she may have been abducted, particularly along the Omasiuno area of the State.
Read Also: Soludo hold Ramadan breakfast with Muslim community leaders in Anambra
Attempts to reach her via phone have proven futile, with her line continually unresponsive.
Emma Ojukwu, the Special Assistant on Public Relations Matters and Special Duty to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone, redirected inquiries to the university’s security department.
Subsequently, the Chief Security Officer of the University, Ken Chukwurah, confirmed the distressing development.
Chukwurah stated, “Yes it is true. DSS has been fully in the picture since yesterday. We are working with them. We got information that one of our students was on her way to attend a funeral ceremony in a village outside Awka when the incident happened and since then she has not been found.”
He emphasized that the incident did not transpire within the school premises but during Chioma’s journey to the funeral.
Chukwurah revealed that relevant security agencies have been alerted, and the kidnappers have made contact with the family.
However, it remains unclear if any ransom demands have been made.
The State Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochukw Ikenga, when contacted, confirmed the incident.
He said “yes the command is aware of the the unconfirmed information out there on the abduction and we want to use this medium to invite the victim’s family, friends, or witnesses to come forward with information that can help us embark on information, please.”