ASUU, Delta State Threatens Strike Action Over Kidnapped Colleague

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Delta State Chapter, has called for the immediate release of Dr. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, an internationally renowned scholar and scientist who was kidnapped by unknown gun men, threatening to embark on strike if government fails to secure unconditional release of their colleague.

ASUU in a statement issued at the weekend in Warri and made available to newsmen as signed by Professor Abel Diakparomre and Dr. Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri, Chairman and Secretary respectively, ASUU, lamented the incessant kidnap of lecturers in the state.

The statement said that it has become very worrisome that since the “kidnap” of Dr. Tonukari on Monday October 13, this year, no group has claimed responsibility neither has any group or individual made contact with the family or anybody, adding that “no demand for ransom has been made. Tonukari has thus remained incommunicado with his where about unknown.”

“The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Delta State University (DELSU) Branch is highly vexed and worried by this unholy and pathetically ugly incident of kidnapping of university academics which has until some years ago remained alien and utopian to the Nigerian society in general and DELSU in particular.”

“To have turned the university academic into chicks in the talons of the hawks (kidnappers) is primitive, antithetical to societal development, retrogressive, atrocious, vile and therefore totally unacceptable. Lecturers are peaceful, unassuming, loving and harmless set of people who commit themselves to the realization of functional intellectualism and pragmatism.

“Particularly, Dr. Tonukari is a peace loving, humanistic, philanthropic individual who believes in the welfare of the vulnerable, defence of the oppressed and support for the progressive. He is a personification of motivation to all who come across him,” the statement added.

Further, the statement said, “ASUU, DELSU, thereby, appealed to those holding Dr. Tonukari to release him immediately and unconditionally without harm, reminding those holding him to know that there is God who sits above and sees everybody, and urged that they should leave this innocent man alone.

“We have over endured the incessant kidnap of our lecturers and subsequent payment of ransom. We are tired of it. If Dr. Tonukari is not release immediately ASUU-DELSU may have no option than to resort to the ASUU National directives in the case of the its members’ kidnap. An injury to one is an injury to all. “

Dr. Tonukari, an associate Professor of Microbiology at the Delta State University, Abraka went missing on his way from Sapale to Abraka on Monday 13 October, 2014. His car was found abandoned in the neighbourhood of Eku in Ethiope East Local Government area of the state. It is suspected that he is kidnapped by some yet to be identified persons.

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