ASUU protests members’ kidnaps in Ekiti

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Ekiti State University chapter, on Monday, in Ado Ekiti, protested against the kidnap of their members and issued a five day ultimatum to government to secure their release.

Failure to do this, the union said, it would not hesitate to embark on an indefinite strike till situation returned to normal.

Describing the case as frightening and disturbing, the union lamented that five of their members had been kidnapped at various locations in the state within two weeks, of which only two had been released to look for N210 million ransom for the release of other three hostages.

A lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Dr. Femi Omisore; Dr. Mrs. Folasade Alade of EKSU and Dr. Mrs. Kikelomo Adegun, wife of the former Chief Medical Director of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti are still in the kidnappers den.

The protesting lecturers carried placards with various inscriptions like “ASUU say no to kidnapping,” “Kidnapping is a crime against humanity,” “ASUU demands unconditional release of members,” and “Ensure safety of lives and property,” among others.

They converged on Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, before moving to the Ewi’s Palace, where they were addressed by Oba Rufus Adejugbe and members of his Council.

ASUU members were led by EKSU Chairman, Prof. Olufayo Olu-Olu and Chairman OAU Chapter,  Dr. Caleb Aborisade, and his counterpart from Federal University of Technology, Akure, Dr. Bola Oniya.

They later moved to the Governor’s office in Ado Ekiti where they were received by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kolapo Olusola.

ASUU expressed concerns about kidnappers making them and health workers in the state targets.

It urged the government to do all within its powers to rescue the state from sliding into anarchy.

Olu-Olu said, “This is the same way Boko Haram started in the North. It started like a child’s play, but today, a visit to the North would show the level of callousness and damage the sects have done to the system. On this premise, the government must act fast and stop this nonsense.

“These kidnappers erroneously thought our members are rich but they never knew that we have not received salaries in EKSU since March, 2015. Three of our members are still being held and they were demanding N70 million each, where do you expect us to get such money?

“Our fear is that, immediately these people realise that we are not rich, they may decide to waste them in the bush and this is our fear.

“We are pleading with Governor Fayose to act fast because it seems the police and the DSS have no clue on how the victims can be saved.”

Aborisade hinted that ASUU in OAU may relocate its Secretariat to Ado Ekiti from Friday if their colleagues had yet to be saved from the kidnappers’ den.

Credit: The Punch