The three staff of the Shehu Idris College of Health Sciences and Technology, Makarfi that were abducted by unknown gunmen Monday night have regained their freedom.
Administrator of the school, Yusuf Yakubu confirmed their release to Daily Trust in a text message saying they were released at 8pm on Tuesday. But could not establish whether ransom was paid.
The gunmen had initially demanded for N7million ransom.
The three staff were Ilesha Damina Akaau, Director, School of Dental Health Sciences, Malama Rabi Malami, the immediate past Director of the Dental School and Malama Halima Rilwan, a lecturer in the Dental School.
They were abducted while returning from an official assignment in Zaria.
Daily Trust learnt that a team from Dental Council of Nigeria were at the college for accreditation exercise and the three staff went to Zaria to arrange for their accommodation and feeding.
Our source said: “The abductors chased them up to Tashar Yari, a junction at Km 35 off Zaria-Kano express road. Their car was abandoned close to Albruj students’ hostel. The abductors called the college management and told them to pick the car at that spot.”
Some staff of the college blamed the abduction on “connivance with insiders”, saying that it would be very difficult for someone who is not used to the terrain to carry out such act successfully.
“There is no bush along the road that one can successfully abduct three persons at the early hour of the night. I think we should look in-house for the abductors or their collaborators,” the source said.
This is the second abduction to take place in Zaria in a span of two weeks, as an expatriate with Mothercat company was whisked away from the company’s premises in the GRA, Zaria about two weeks ago. This abduction took place in a broad daylight.
The Kaduna Police spokesperson, DSP Yakubu Sabo Abubakar had earlier confirmed the incident.
