After spending 11 days with his abductors, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, DVC, of Abia State University (ABSU), Prof Godwin Emezue, has been released by his kidnappers.
According to reports, Prof. Emezue was abducted in a filling station around Umuekwule, Amachara in Umuahia South LGA where he went to refill his tank, along with his wife on January 26, 2024.
Eyewitnesses said the university DVC Academics was whisked away by no fewer than three men who accosted him at the fuel station, dragged him into an already waiting Lexus SUV, and collected his wife’s ATM card.
He was released on Tuesday night after his family allegedly parted with a ransom of N25 million to the kidnappers, according to Vanguard.
The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N35 million and threatened to kill the university don when the family pleaded for a ransom of N5 million.
Sources hinted that the kidnappers had released footage of how they tortured the professor and threatened to kill him if the family failed to pay N20 million before the end of Saturday.
The kidnappers were also said to have warned the family against involving security agencies.
According to the newspaper, the kidnappers later demanded an extra N5 million, claiming that they had instructions to kill the university don but may not act on it if the family hastened to pay the extra money.
Following his release, Emezue is said to have been admitted to an undisclosed hospital, where he is receiving medical attention.
