6 Days After The Release Of UNIPORT Lecturer; Another One Kidnapped Again

Gunmen have abducted another lecturer of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. John Okoli. Prof. Okoli was kidnapped at the close of work and taken to an unknown destination.

His abduction came six days after the release of another lecturer of the university, Dr. Reginald Ohiri of the Department of Biochemistry. Dr Ohiri, it was gathered, was kidnapped last week and later freed because ‘he was not the target’.

The gunmen, however, invaded the same institution yesterday and whisked away Prof. Okoli, who is the Director of Offshore Technology Institute.

Spokesman of the institution, Dr. William Wodi confirmed the abduction, describing the development as frightening.
Wodi said the situation has become worrisome, adding that it has affected academic activities in the institution.
He appealed to the kidnappers to free the lecturer unconditionally, urging government and security agencies to beef up security in the school.

“They have just confirmed that Prof John Okoli, Director of the Offshore Technology Institute, was kidnapped. He is of the Faculty of Engineering,” Wodi said.
“It is becoming ‘turn-by-turn’ in UniPort. This situation is becoming the ‘new normal’ and seriously hampering our core mandate of teaching, research and public service”.