Kidnapped Nigerian Professor Escapes from Captivity

Professor Oguejiofor Ujam, dean of the School of General Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has escaped from captivity after being kidnapped along the Opi-Nsukka-Ugwogo-Nike Road, according to the Enugu State Police.

Enugu State police spokesperson Daniel Ndukwe confirmed the professor’s escape in a statement on Tuesday, October 29.

He was abducted on Sunday evening along a highway notorious for an increase in kidnapping incidents.

His escape occurred following a gun battle between police operatives and suspected kidnappers in the Neke-Uno area on Monday night. During the confrontation, police recovered an AK-47 rifle, two magazines with 22 rounds, and a chain of 39 live ammunition as the kidnappers fled, wounded from gunfire.

The professor’s escape highlights ongoing security concerns in the region, where kidnappings for ransom have become more frequent. Just hours before Ujam’s abduction, an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Emeason Chima, was reportedly kidnapped along the same route.

However, police spokesperson Ndukwe has denied any record of the FRSC official’s kidnapping.

In response to the rise in kidnappings, Enugu State Commissioner of Police Kanayo Uzuegbu has ordered the deployment of additional personnel and resources to enhance security along the Opi-Nsukka-Ugwogo-Nike corridor.