Negotiations ongoing to free UNIMAID lecturers - ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has said talks are still ongoing with the Federal Government to secure the release of the  University of Maiduguri lecturers abducted by the Boko Haram terrorists.


The ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, who confirmed this to our correspondent in an interview, said the union had been assured of “ongoing efforts” by the government, noting that he could not divulge further details for security reasons.

The lecturers were abducted during an oil exploration trip in Barno Yasu area of the Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State near the Lake Chad region.

Ogunyemi said, “The government has asked us to give them some time. Our members are working with them. We have also given them our suggestions, and they have told us to give them time.

“We are monitoring the efforts. The government did not give us the full details. But you recall that the service chiefs were also asked to relocate to Borno. So efforts are on.”

Meanwhile, troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Lafiya Dole have killed two Boko Haram terrorists during an ambush in Alargano area.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, who confirmed this, said, “The troops of the Forward Operation Base Mainok, in the early hours of Sunday laid ambush for the terrorists. We recovered their weapons, two motorcycles, jerry cans and grounded guinea corn.

“Similarly, troops of 151 Battalion, 21 Brigade, discovered multiple Improvised Explosive Devices, connected together planted on the road at a suspected terrorist ambush site around Banki Junction in Bama. The troops successfully disconnected and recovered them.”