By Iliya Kure
Management of Greenfield University Kaduna has appealed to government and spirited individuals to assist in securing the release of its staff and students kidnapped early this week.
“A ransom of 800 million Naira has been demanded for our abducted staff and students,” says a statement by Registrar of the institution, Bashir Muhammad to newsmen in Kaduna on Saturday.
On Tuesday, gunmen struck and took away unspecified number of staff and students from the university located at Kasarami village off Kaduna-Abuja expressway in Chikun LGA.
“We are at this point calling on the government and people of goodwill who can be of assistance to come to our aid as the situation is becoming overwhelming.”
Three of the kidnapped students have been shot dead by the gunmen, “two female and one male casualties,” the statement says. Their remains were found Friday in Kwanan Bature village, a location close to the university and have been evacuated to a mortuary by Kaduna State government.
The Registrar explained that so far, efforts have not yielded fruits in securing the release of the kidnapped staff and students.
While appreciating Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State for its role in the matter, the Management appealed “to those in custody of our staff and students to spare their lives.”
Earlier in a statement, Governor El-Rufai has condemned the killing of the students, describing it as sheer wickedness, and an outright desecration of human lives by vile entities, adding that the armed bandits represent the worst of humankind.
He appealed to citizens to come together against the forces of darkness challenging national security and the very existence of the Nigerian State.
According to the Government statement, the Governor had also sent condolences and empathy to the students’ families and the university community.
