By Emma Ogbuehi
Six staff of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) , including two Professors and their family members, abducted by gunmen on Tuesday, have regained their freedom.
Though details of the rescue operation were still sketchy as at the time of filing this report, the Federal Capital Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, nevertheless, confirmed the development in a statement this morning.
Two professors, a non-academic staff, and three others were abducted from their official quarters on Tuesday.
Twenty-four hours later, the terrorists demanded N300 million ransom, N50 million for each of them.
It is not yet known if the ransom was paid and by whom since the terrorists elected to open negotiations with the victims’ families rather than the University authorities.
Background to ransom negotiation
The gunmen had contacted the mother of one of the kidnapped boys and asked for N50 million each for the abductees.
A source in the university told The Nation that the gunmen opened a line of communication, using the woman to pass their demands across.
The source said: “The kidnappers contacted the woman whose son is with them. They allowed her to speak with the boy then they told her what their demands are.
“The kidnappers asked for N50 million each for the six persons kidnapped.”
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Asked if the university is involved in the negotiations, the source said: “The UNIABUJA is not involved. They contacted the woman whose child they abducted and they permitted her to speak to her son.
“They refused to speak with individual family members.
“It is not advisable for the university to get involved directly. That is the truth.
“If the families are negotiating, they may even get a better deal so to speak. If it is UNIABUJA that is negotiating with them you know that they will not budge.
“It is better for the families to negotiate when they come down, then the university can do whatever it deems fit. I think that is the strategy.”
READ ALSO: I’m happy I killed my brother, says 33-year-old UNIABUJA student
Gunmen suspected to be bandits, in the early hours of Tuesday, invaded the UNIABUJA’s staff quarters and abducted four lecturers and some of their children.
The gunmen were said to have stormed the staff quarters in Giri and held the lecturers and the children hostage.
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