FG seeks compensation for UNIMAID lecturers

THE Federal Government has urged the governing council and management of the University of Maiduguri to work out some compensation to cushion the trauma of the members of staff of the university, who recently regained their freedom after over seven months of abduction by insurgents.

Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwukah, made the call when he received the released lecturers and top officials of the university, led by the vice chancellor, Professor Ibrahim AbukakarNjodi, in his office.

He also appealed to the oil company involved in the exploration drive to consider appropriate palliative measures for the affected staff, including the families of the six that lost their lives in the attack.

The minister described the attack on the lecturers as a rude shock and urged the survivors to put the ordeal behind them and forge ahead.

Professor Njodi recalled that the insurgents struck in July, 2017 when the team of nine officials from the university was on sample collection mission in respect of oil exploration.

The vice chancellor, who was in tears as he reflected on the traumatic incident, commended President Muhammadu Buhari and, indeed, all the organs of government that made the release of the three officers possible.

The released officers are: Dr Solomon Yusuf, a Senior Lecturer in Geo-Physics; Mr Yusuf Ibrahim, a Graduate Assistant, and Haruna Dashe, a Technical Officer in the institution.