a professor of Nuclear Physics, James
Olomo, are anxious over the
whereabouts of the academic.
Our correspondent gathered that
Olomo, a lecturer at the Obafemi
Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun
State, left his work place for Eket,
Akwa Ibom State, for a private
business in the middle of October. He
had not been seen since then.
It was learnt that the professor had
told some friends and relations on the
telephone from Eket, on Saturday,
October 19, of his departure to Lagos.
He had yet to be seen in the state.
One of his friends, who spoke with
PUNCH Metro on the condition of
anonymity, said, "It was on his return
journey to Lagos the next day through
Calabar, Cross River State, that
something went amiss. I am very sure
about that"
It was learnt that when nothing was
heard from the professor after a few
days, one of his relatives in Lagos
became worried and called OAU to be
sure if Olomo changed his mind and
had gone to Ile-Ife instead of coming
to Lagos.
The initial enquiry soon turned to
panic as nobody was able to contact
him.
It was learnt that although the family
had reported the matter to the police,
nothing had turned up to suggest
where the man was.
The family, however, expressed
optimism that the professor would be
found alive.
A statement by the family secretary,
Sule Salami, read in part, "We
appreciate efforts made so far by all
the arms of security, colleagues,
friends and his employers to solve the
riddle of his disappearance, but we
are sad that Olomo, whom we believe
is alive, is still held incommunicado by
some persons."
The OAU management, however, said
it was not treating Olomo's
disappearance as kidnapping, but
rather, as a case of missing person.
A statement by the OAU Public
Relations Officer, Biodun Olarewaju,
said there was no enough evidence to
conclude that he was kidnapped.
Olarewaju said, "One of our senior
lecturers is missing. We have put the
security agencies on the alert. We
seek the intervention of public to
provide information about his
whereabouts to the nearest police
station or the university
management.
"All efforts to trace him have proved
abortive. We don't know if he has
been kidnapped; but if he is, we
expected that the abductors should
have contacted either the school
authority or his family for a ransom,
but that has not been done."
Head of Physics Department, OAU,
Joshua Ojo, described his
disappearance as shocking.
"We are indeed at a loss. Olomo has
been instrumental to the
development of this department and a
very amiable person. We pray that he
will be found very soon", he said.
Chairman of the Academic Staff Union
of Universities, OAU branch, Adegbola
Akinola, said everything was being
done to unravel Olomo's
whereabouts.
He said, "Last month, we got the
information that Oloma could no
longer be contacted. We called his
telephone numbers, but none was
working. We tried to track the phones
to no avail. We have contacted our
colleagues in the area to let them
know about the situation."
A top official at the Osun State Police
Command confirmed to our
correspondent that Olomo was
missing.
The source said, "He has been
reported missing and that has been
circulated to all other commands in
Nigeria. Investigation is being
handled by the Akwa Ibom Police
Command, where he was last seen. It
is hopeful that he will be found."
When contacted, the acting Police
Public Relations Officer for Akwa
Ibom command, Mr. John Patrick,
said report on the missing lecturer
had been made known to the public.
He said Olomo got missing after he
left his hotel in Eket, Akwa Ibom
State.
"We have received report about the
missing Olomo. We are investigating
it. The issue has been broadcast on
the radio," he added.
http://www.punchng.com/metro/oau-profs-dissapearance-worries-colleagues-family/
0 100000:
Post a Comment