Professor Oguejiofo Ujam, a distinguished academic at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), was kidnapped on Sunday while traveling along the Ugwuogo-Nike-Opi-Nsukka Road.
Prof. Ujam, who is the Dean of the School of General Studies and teaches in the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, is among several individuals reportedly abducted on this route in the last week.
Chijinkem Ugwuanyi, a social media influencer, announced the incident on Facebook, writing, “Prof. Oguejiofo T. Ujam was kidnapped yesterday morning along the Ugwuogo-Nike-Opi-Nsukka road. He is a lecturer in the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry and Dean of the School of General Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. We need to pray for his safe and unharmed return.”
A fellow UNN colleague, who spoke anonymously to Daily Post, confirmed that the kidnapping was shared in the WhatsApp group of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) UNN chapter, where an urgent message was sent out seeking assistance for Prof. Ujam, who was taken near Opi-Enugu Road. “Prof. Oguejiofo Ujam, the Dean of GS, was kidnapped this morning along Opi-Enugu Road. Please, we need urgent help,” the ASUU post stated.
Despite the presence of numerous police and military checkpoints along the Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka Road, kidnappings have surged alarmingly, with reports of daily abductions.
This recent spate of incidents has raised serious concerns about the safety of travelers on this road, prompting residents to call for more effective measures to address the escalating insecurity.