On Monday January 18, 2015, unknown armed men reportedly abducted Professor M.E. Ogburie, Director of Centre for Continuing Education, Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt. He was abducted from his hometown, in Elele axis, Rivers State.
Professor Blessing Didia, the Acting Vice Chancellor of RSUST, confirmed the abduction. As of this report, Nigerian police have yet to comment on the incident. The kidnappers have reportedly established communications with Professor Ogburie’s family, but the kidnappers’ motivations or demands are not currently known.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the abduction of a scholar. In addition to the harm to the immediate victim, such incidents may contribute to a climate of fear in the scholar’s higher education community. State authorities have a responsibility to ensure the security of higher education communities, to prevent future attacks, and to hold perpetrators of violent attacks accountable.
Sources
http://allafrica.com/stories/201601190336.html
http://dailypost.ng/2016/01/18/university-professor-kidnapped-in-rivers/
http://www.punchng.com/gunmen-kidnap-varsity-lecturer-in-rivers/
http://www.informationng.com/2016/01/university-professor-kidnapped-in-rivers.html

SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Learn more.