NANS Orders Akpabio, Police to Find OAU Lecturer

The National Association of Nigerian Students has ordered the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, the police and other security agencies in the state to find the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, missing lecturer, Prof. James Olomo or face its wrath.

The Coordinator of the NANS in the South West, Mr. Sunday Ashefon, said this in a statement made in Osogbo on Sunday.

Olomo, a lecturer at the Department of Physics at the OAU had travelled to Eket in Akwa Ibom on October 17, 2013. But he had not been seen since October 20.

However, the student body said it was sad that neither Akpabio, who is the chief security officer in the state where the lecturer went missing, nor the security agencies had done anything to find the university don.

The statement read in part, “We are using this medium to remind our slumbering authorities at all levels, who are saddled with the primary responsibilities of protecting the lives and property of the citizens, to wake up from their deep slumber and begin to take actions necessary to safeguard the people.

“We wish to state that Nigerian students across the South West, and indeed the entire country, shall hold the Government of Akwa Ibom State responsible for whatever happens to our much revered professor. We wish to remind them that state governors remain the chief security officers of the states they govern.

“The government of Akwa Ibom, as a matter of compulsion, must ensure that Prof. Olowo is found within 14 days.

“Failure to do so will attract serious actions from all Nigerian Students across the South West.

“Equally, we wish to call on the Nigeria Police Force and every other security agencies to intensify efforts at ensuring unconditional release of Prof. Olomo from wherever he may be.”

The ASUU Chairman, OAU branch, Prof. Akinola Adegbola, and a human rights lawyer had last week condemned the nonchalant attitude of security agencies to the plight of the
Olomo family who had been traumatised since their breadwinner got missing.

Olomo had embarked on the trip to Eket for an engagement by an oil company. His belongings were later found in the hotel where he lodged but the don has not been seen for almost three months.