The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the attack on the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) by bandits shows the failure of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
This is as the University of Abuja chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has confirmed the abduction of two professors from the Staff Quarters of the institution.
The armed bandits had stormed the Staff Quarters of the university, shooting sporadically before whisking about six persons away in the earlier hours of yesterday.
The PDP, which condemned the attack, “demanded an unconditional release of the victims to reunite with their family members.”
This was contained in a statement titled, ‘Bandit Attack in UniAbuja Under Buhari’s Security Precincts, Shocking,’ signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday.
The statement read, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns the Tuesday’s attack on the University of Abuja by bandits, who abducted four staff members and some children in the institution.
“The party describes the attack as cowardly and demanded an unconditional release of the victims to reunite with their families members.
“The PDP describes the banditry which occurred within the precincts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s immediate security purview, just 16kilometres from the Aso Presidential Villa, as shocking and further shows the helplessness and failures of his administration.
“With this act of banditry in Abuja, Nigerians expect President Buhari, in line with his promise to lead from the fronts, to straightaway give himself a ‘marching order’ to rescue the victims, just as gives to others whenever there are cases of security failures in commands outside of his security precincts.
“The PDP, however, charges the security agencies not to relent in the face of the failures of the Buhari administration but rise up to the occasion, track down the bandits and rescue the victims.
“The party laments the persistent insecurity in the nation and urged all the citizens to be at alert and assist security agencies in their genuine efforts to secure the country under an incompetent administration.
“The PDP urges Nigerians to continue to pray for the safety and freedom of all compatriots languishing in their abductors’ den, while tasking governments at all levels to rise up to the occasion and device more efficient strategies of securing our nation.”
However, the University of Abuja chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has confirmed the abduction of two professors from the staff quarters of the institution.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, yesterday, confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its spokesperson, DSP Josephine Adeh.
She stated that the FCT Commissioner of Police, Babaji Sunday, had dispatched additional tactical and conventional policing resources to the university’s main and satellite campuses to forestall further attacks.
Also confirming the abduction, the ASUU Chairman, UNIABUJA, Dr Kassim Umaru said that the institution was working towards rescuing the victims.
According to him, those abducted are Prof Obansa and his son; Prof Oboscolo, his son and daughters; as well as Sambo Mohammed and Dr Tobins.
He called on Nigerians to remember the abductees in their prayers to ensure the victims are rescued unhurt.
“Please, we need your prayers for their safe return,” the ASUU chairman said in a message.