Rita Odafe
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There have been reports of Francisca Chioma Mbadigha, a student at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka, being kidnapped in Anambra State.
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It was learned that on Friday, April 5, 2024, a student in the Department of Science Education was abducted while route to a funeral in a community outside of Awka.
A close friend who talked to Nigerian Tribune and a classmate who want to remain anonymous claim that Chioma hasn’t been heard from since. Attempts to contact her by phone have been unsuccessful, and her line has consistently remained unreachable.
Emma Ojukwu, the Vice-Chancellor’s Special Assistant on Public Relations Matters and Special Duty, Prof. Charles Esimone, referred questions to the university’s security division when reached.
Subsequently, the Chief Security Officer of the University, Ken Chukwurah, confirmed the development, adding that the kidnappers have contacted the student’s family.
“Yes it is true. DSS has been fully in the picture since yesterday. We are working with them. We got information that one of our students was on her way to attend a funeral ceremony in a village outside Awka when the incident happened and since then she has not been found,” Chukwurah said.
He made it clear that the event happened on Chioma’s way to the burial, not on the school grounds.
Chukwurah disclosed that the kidnappers had contacted the family and have notified the appropriate security agencies.
It’s still unclear, though, if any requests for ransom have been made.
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