Gunmen have abducted two teachers, Blessing Chukwu and Ikpendu Samuel, posted to a secondary school at Ubima community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. Chukwu and Samuel teach at Community Secondary School, Ubima.
They were, however, abducted on Monday evening on the leading to the school while returning home. A source from the family of one of the victims disclosed that the abductors had communicated with them and demanded N5 million ransom.
Apart from the kidnap, there has been unrest in Ubima in the last six months with rival cult groups attacking each other, resulting in the loss of lives.
The situation has forced some residents to flee the community. A teacher in the school, Mr. Sunday Onu, said the abductors struck shortly after the two teachers left the school premises and were on their way home. According to him, the victims were aware of the community’s security challenges.
He said: “We are not happy over the abduction of the newly posted teachers. We were still in the school around 4:30p.m. when we heard sounds of gun. When we came out to see what was happening, the abductors had taken them away.
“We are calling on the state government to provide security in this community if they still want us to continue coming to the school. The rate of kidnapping and killing in the community is disturbing.”
When contacted on the phone, the school Principal, Mr. S. A. Akor, said he was meeting with the directors and after that they would decide on what to do. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ahmad Mohammad, was yet to react to the abduction at press time.
