ASUU demands maximum penalty for abductors, killers of members

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has demanded for maximum punishment for the kidnappers and killers of its member at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Christiana Agbulu.

The zonal coordinator of the ASUU-Nsuka, Prof Ukoh Ikoli, told newsmen in Lokoja, Kogi State capital on Saturday that the union would not hesitate to engage private prosecution if the state and the police are foot dragging over the matter.

The union’s position was the fallout of the discovery of the decomposing body of the university lecturer along Lokoja-Abuja highway following her abduction by gunmen.

Agbulu was kidnapped on November 26, 2016, while on a visit to Lokoja and her decomposed body later found in a shallow grave where she was buried by her assailants after serially raping her.

However, Ikoli said the union wanted the authority responsible for prosecution to ensure that the perpetrators did not go unpunished.

He said, “We want to draw the attention of the authority responsible for protection of lives and properties and enforcement of law in our land to ensure that the perpetrators of the act are arrested and maximum penalty prescribed by law for this heinous act is visited on them.

“We are appealing to government and its agencies to ensure that justice prevails in this case, we won’t allow our colleague to die in vain, we will not stop until the culprits are prosecuted in line with the law”.

The union at the zonal level said it would consult with its national body on the action to be taken if the people are not prosecuted.