Workers under the aegis of Academy and Combined Concerned
Workers of the University of Calabar on Friday raised the alarm over an alleged
plot to kidnap some principal officers of the institution.
The workers, in a press briefing in Calabar, Cross River State,
alleged that hoodlums have threatened that if they will go after the children
or wards of the principal officers if they fail to get their targets.
The acting Head of Department of Modern Languages in the
university, Dr. Sampson Uzuanke, who spoke as chairman of the group, said the
group would not take the matter lightly considering the recent cases of
kidnappings in the residential quarters of the institution.
At least no fewer than 10 lecturers including wives and
wards have been reportedly kidnapped in the last one year from the
institution’s staff quarters.
He wondered why such threat would come at a crucial period
when the university community was preparing for its 30th convocation ceremony.
Uzuanke said, “We got the information that some disgruntled
elements who are working with some forces outside the university have concluded
plans to kidnap top principal officers or their children or wards.
“Information at our disposal have shown that those behind
the dastardly plot have gone ahead to recruit cultists and hoodlums to cause
mayhem within the academic community.
“Such threats can no longer be taken lightly as this group
in collaboration with other concerned workers of the university and security
agency will go the whole hog to ensure that those behind it are arrested and
made to face the wrath of the law.”
Also decrying the threat, secretary of the group, Dr. Ayuk
Achu, said the intention of the plotters was to not only to disrupt the pending
30th convocation ceremony, but to further portray the revered institution in
bad light.
Achu maintained that the university was noted for its
peaceful co-existent and academic excellence, warning that students and
majority of the staff would not fold their hands and watch any person or group
of persons undermine the security of the institution.
Also, another coordinator of the group, Mr. Johnson Inyang,
appealed to students and other unions within the university community to rise
up to the security challenge and not allow themselves to be used by mischief
makers.
Inyang, who is a senior staff in the Faculty of Arts, called
on security agencies from within and outside the school to save the institution
of the embarrassing threats.
When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hafiz
Inuwa, said that he was not aware of the development, but promised to beef up
security in the school.
“We are not aware of the threat for now but we will rise up
to the challenge by doing the needful. All the police divisions around the
school will be put on alert,” he promised.
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