The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Monday gave the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, till Friday to secure the release of its members kidnapped recently in the state.
The Chairman of ASUU, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State branch, Dr. Caleb Aborisade, gave the ultimatum when he led members of the union at the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti in a peaceful protest to the governor on the kidnap of the union’s members.
ASUU members in the captivity of kidnappers are Dr. Morenike Adegun, Dr. Patrick Adegun, Dr. Folashade Alade and a lecturer from OAU, Dr. Femi Omisore, who was in the state for an engagement.
Also in the kidnappers’ den are a senior nurse at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Margaret Aladenika, and two unidentified women kidnapped along with Dr. Alade and their husbands.
But the husbands were later released to run around to scout for ransom to free their wives.
The placard-carrying protesters with inscriptions such as: “Kidnapping is a crime against humanity”, “ASUU demands unconditional release of our members”, “Release Dr. (Mrs) Adegun, Dr (Mrs) Alade and others”, “ASUU says no to kidnapping in Ekiti State” among others, had gathered in front of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital from where they matched through major streets to the palace of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, and the Governor’s Office, chanting songs to condemn the kidnap of their members.
Addressing Fayose, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, the OAU ASUU chairman vowed that if by Friday the governor does not secure the unconditional release of their members, the union would be forced to relocate its headquarters to Ekiti State and ask its members at EKSU to withdraw their services.
Also the chairman of ASUU, EKSU chapter, Prof. Olufayo Olu-Olu, lamented that no fewer than five of his members had been kidnapped in the last few weeks.
Olu-Olu wondered why the captors had focused their attention on those in the medical and academic lines.
He said: “We are aggrieved, not happy.
“The target seems to be lecturers and medical doctors.
“The Boko Haram insurgency started like this.
“We thought it was a joke but now we can see what is happening.
“The kidnappers are demanding N70 million from each of their victims.
“Where do we get the money from.?
“Some of us have received threat letters from kidnappers and we don’t know who is the next target. We are all concerned, no clue yet on their whereabouts.
“We want the government to secure the unconditional release of our members.”
The deputy governor, while responding on behalf of the governor, appealed to the aggrieved lecturers to be patient and cooperate with the government and security operatives in ensuring the unconditional release of those in captivity.
Olusola added: “It’s quite unfortunate that this is happening in Ekiti State.
“Kidnapping is a crime against humanity and that cannot be allowed to stand.
“The government will do all within its power to ensure the unconditional release of our members.
“It is in fulfillment of this that the governor has gone to Abuja to seek the intervention of the IG.
“It is unfortunate that the kidnappers are targeting medical workers and those in the academics.”
The deputy governor pleaded with the lecturers not to down tools as threatened, saying: “This will create more tension in the state.”
The deputy governor later led a prayer session to seek divine intervention for the release of the victims.