UNIZIK student travelling for burial feared kidnapped

Palpable fear has enveloped the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, over the missing of one of its students in the Department of Science Education, Francisca Chioma.

Chioma, it was gathered, was on her way to attend a burial in a village outside Awka, Anambra State on Friday, and her whereabouts have remained unknown till now.

One of her schoolmates and a friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed the development to our correspondent on Monday, adding that there were fears she might have been kidnapped.

The source said, “She is my friend and also a student in my school at the Science Education Department. Her name is Francisca Chioma. She left for a funeral ceremony somewhere in a village outside Awka, on Friday and till now, her whereabouts are still unknown.

“There are indications that she might have been kidnapped along Omasiunu area in Anambra State. We have called her telephone line severally, and it is not responding.”

However, when contacted, Emma Ojukwu, the Special Assistant on Public Relations Matters and Special Duty to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone, referred our correspondent to the security department.

When contacted on the telephone, the Chief Security Officer of the institution, Ken Chukwurah, confirmed the development.

He said, “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.

“It is also important to note that the incident did not happen in the school, we have to be clear about it. We have contacted the relevant security agencies, and the ‘kidnappers’ have contacted the family. Although, we are not aware if they have requested any ransom or not.”

Efforts to also contact the Anambra State police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, proved abortive as calls and messages to his telephone line were not responded to.