ASUU calls for immediate rescue of UNIABUJA abducted staff

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Abuja branch, has called on the Federal Government and security agencies for immediate rescue and release of all abducted members of staff of the university.

Recall that, on Tuesday, armed men who are yet to be identified, invaded the staff quarters of the institution and whisked away the victims.

According to the Chairperson of the branch, Dr Kasim Umar, who made the call on Thursday at a news conference in Gwagwalada, while reacting to the issue said that things may become worse if stringent measures are not put in place.

He said the Senior Staff Quarters were built by President Shehu Shayari’s administration, originally as a Police Barracks at the inception of the university in 1988 and later converted to temporary accommodation for founding staff.

“We demand immediate rescue and release of all our kidnapped members, children and other staff, who are currently being held by the criminals; government should act swiftly to ensure this is done.

“Perimeter fencing around the Staff Quarters should be immediately embarked upon because there is a need for effective control of movement around the university’s quarters.

“There should be active cooperation between the military, other security agencies and the university administration.

“To make this effective, ASUU demands the establishment of a rapid response unit in the form of a joint task force or police mobile unit or military special force, which could be called upon, in case of any emergency.

“We call for the immediate ejection of all illegal occupants and trespassers from the university land.

“There is need to embark on the immediate construction of residential quarters that befit the status of a university in the Federal Capital Territory,” the Chairperson said.

Umar who explained the condition of the entire entire staff quarters, said the quarters was in bad shape and the road infrastructure completely deteriorated, stressing that parts of the perimeter fence had also collapsed making security around the quarters almost non-existent.

He stressed that the students’ hostels are highly insecure and the entire campus, vulnerable to all manners of attacks, adding that unauthorised individuals have occupied some parts of the university land thereby increasing the state of insecurity on the campus.”