By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
Gunmen on Sunday night February 21, 2021, brought sorry and agony to the University Of Port Harcourt community as they abducted
a lecturer in the Department of Linguistics and Communications Studies, Dr Jones Ayuwo.
They also whisked away a first-class traditional ruler in Rivers State, King Aaron Ikuru of Ikuru Town in Andoni Local Government Area.
Ayuwo was abducted along the Andoni-Ogoni road, while returning from Andoni after a function by his Local Language Bible Translation Committee, which he serves as the secretary.
Besides, three journalists with the Rivers State Government-owned Television who went for the coverage of the event were also attacked. They lost their valuables including camera to the criminals.
The spokesperson of the University of Port Harcourt, Samuel Kpenu, who confirmed the abduction, said that no contact had been made with the family or the institution.
Ayuwo, whose wife is the bursar in the University of Port Harcourt, also serves as a member of the Governing Council of Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, Rivers State.
The gunmen also stormed the palace of a First Class Traditional Ruler, King Aaron Ikuru of Ikuru Town in Andoni Local Government Area and whisked him away.
The attacks, which came two weeks after the abduction of a female journalist with The Nigeria Television Authority in Rivers State, brought to bear some of the challenges the new Commissioner of Police, Eboka Friday, who assumed duty on Friday, February 19 would have to grapple with.
The spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, said the command had received the report of the abductions but yet to release detailed information.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives member representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, Awaji-Inombe Abiante, has called for the immediate release of the abductees.
Abiante, in a statement he personally signed, described the abduction of the first class traditional ruler as a desecration of the culture and belief of the people.
He also said that the abduction of Dr Jones Ayuwo who was “on an assignment for the betterment and development of the area impedes development.”
He lamented that the attacks portray Andoni in a bad light and must be condemned by all.