Professor Johnson Fatokun.
By Collins Sunday – Lafia
A Professor of Mathematical Science of the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma in Katsina state, Johnson Fatokun has been abducted by gunmen along Akwanga/Keffi highway in Nasarawa state.
It was gathered that Professor Fatokun was driving from Jos enroute Keffi at about 9pm on Monday night and was kidnapped by some group of armed men.
One of the victims who was in the same vehicle with the professor but was lucky to escape spoke with Journalists on Tuesday in Lafia.
He explained that they were approaching Garaku in Kokona local government area when some armed men started shooting sporadically from behind and the professor who was driving decided to increase his speed only to meet another group of armed men who where shooting at them which made them stop the vehicle.
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“When we stopped the vehicle, they ordered us into the bush and they started speaking Hausa dialect and when I told the kidnappers that I don’t understand Hausa language, one of them cocked the gun and wanted shoot at me but ran out of bullet.
“When the kidnapper discovered that he was out of bullet, he brought out his knife and wanted to stab me but I narrowly escaped and hide myself in a drainage.
“The Gunmen came in search for me but before they could find me, men of the Nigerian Army came and engaged the criminals in a gun battle which made them to run inside the bush with the professor”, the victim narrated.
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The victim added that some of the abductors were on police uniforms and fully armed. “I have made statement at the Garaku police station where the professor’s car with bullet holes is currently parked. The abductors are demanding for N20 million ransom before the release of the Professor”.
Professor Fatokun was the Dean, Faculty of Science & Education and Head of Department of Mathematical Science & IT, Federal University, Dutsin-Ma in Katsina state.
He is the Pioneer Deputy Vice Chancellor Anchor University, Lagos and a Dean of Faculty of Natural & Applied Sciences of the university.
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Meanwhile, the Nasarawa state Police command have confirmed the news of the abduction of the University Professor.
Police Public Relations officer, ASP Ramhan Nansel said that gunmen suspected to be kidnappers attacked Prof. Fatokun Johnson of GRA Keffi at Kurmi Shinkafa village, Kokona LGA and abducted him at gunpoint to an unknown destination.
According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner, Bola Longe upon receipt of the information, mobilized a search and rescue team comprising the Police Mobile Force, Anti Kidnapping personnel, Military, Police patrol teams, vigilante and Local hunters to the area for rescue of the abducted victim and arrest of the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
“The Commissioner of Police assures that an unrelenting manhunt of the hoodlums has commenced and measures have been put in place to forestall future occurrence”, he said.
ASP Ramhan Nansel appealed to members of the public to assist the Police with useful information that will lead to the rescue of the victim and arrest of the perpetrators of the crime.
