The Management of Anchor University, Lagos, says it has established contact with its Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof J.O. Fatokun, who is currently in captivity with his abductors.
Anchor, which is owned by the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that Fatokun was kidnapped on Monday, January 18, 2021, in Nasarawa State on his way from Jos, where he had gone to attend to family duties.
“The University, in partnership with the nation’s security agencies are currently working tirelessly to ensure his release within the shortest time possible. We have already established contact with him and wish to inform the public that he is in good spirit,” Anchor said in an emailed statement issued by Okesola S. Sanusi, Assistant Registrar, Strategy & Communications.
He said Fatokun, a Professor of Computational Mathematics and Numerical Analysis, is one of the most valuable staff of the University, who has contributed immensely to academic research for development nationally and internationally.
Nigeria is currently under siege by kidnappers who now prey on citizens at home, in the cities, on the highways, and in remote villages.
Their style is to take their victims to forests, sometimes moving from one location to another. They force their victims to release their family members’ phones through which they contact them and ask for ransom.
The amount they demand in each case depends on their assessment of the personality of a victim.
Although Anchor was silent on this, one report said the abductors had demanded for N20 million for the professor’s release.
