A lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Professor Oguejiofor Ujam, has successfully escaped from captivity after being abducted on Sunday evening along the Opi-Nsukka-Ugwogo-Nike Road in Enugu State. Professor Ujam, who serves as the Dean of the School of General Studies, was reportedly taken hostage in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area.
The Enugu State Police spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the lecturer’s escape on Tuesday. He revealed that police operatives had thwarted a separate kidnapping attempt on Monday evening around the Neke-Uno Axis of the Opi-Nsukka-Ugwogo-Nike Road. Following a gunfight with the suspects, police recovered one AK-47 rifle, two magazines loaded with 22 rounds of ammunition, and a chain of 39 live rounds as the gunmen fled with injuries.
Ndukwe further stated that the intensified police operations that evening led to Professor Ujam’s escape from his abductors’ custody. His release underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat the rise in kidnapping incidents within the area.
However, reports of other recent abductions in Enugu have caused concern among residents. On Saturday, an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) was allegedly kidnapped along the same route, near Maduka University in Ekwegbe. Although multiple sources, including FRSC Enugu Sector Commander Frank Agbakoba, confirmed the incident, the police spokesperson refuted the report, claiming that no such case had been recorded in Enugu State.
Professor Ujam’s escape brings a sense of relief, but the recent spate of kidnappings has highlighted the need for continued vigilance and enhanced security along major routes in the region.
