Gunmen in the early hours of Tuesday invaded the staff quarters of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) and abducted a professor of economics, Obansa Joseph, two of his children, and other people.
A resident said the gunmen invaded the senior staff quarters at Giri in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at 1 a.m on Tuesday and operated for about an hour.
The names of the professor’s two children and the other victims abducted during the attack could not be confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
The university’s spokesman, Habib Yakoob, confirmed the development, saying the victims are about six in number.
“Yes, I just confirmed that the information is true. Apart from the professor and his children, a non-academic staffer was also involved. They are about six victims,” Mr Yakoob said.
He, however, added that security operatives have been mobilised to secure their freedom.
The victim, Mr Obansa, is described as a “distinguished economist of repute”.
Apart from teaching at UNIABUJA, he is also a visiting professor of economics at Veritas University, also in Abuja.
Mr Obansa is an alumnus of the University of Abuja and the University of Lagos. His research interests include health economics and quantitative economic analysis.
