Fears grip Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, as Francisca Chioma, a student from the Department of Science Education, remains missing after setting out for a burial on Friday.
Chioma’s disappearance has sparked concerns among her peers, with suspicions of a possible kidnapping along the route to the village outside Awka, Anambra State.
A concerned friend, who preferred anonymity, disclosed the unsettling development: “She left for a funeral ceremony somewhere in a village outside Awka on Friday, and till now, her whereabouts are still unknown. There are indications that she might have been kidnapped along Omasiunu area in Anambra State. We have called her telephone line severally, and it is not responding.”
Emma Ojukwu, the Special Assistant on Public Relations Matters and Special Duty to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Esimone, redirected inquiries to the security department when approached.
Confirming the situation, Ken Chukwurah, the Chief Security Officer of the institution, stated, “Yes, it is true. DSS has been fully in the picture since yesterday. We are working with them. We got information that one of our students was on her way to attend a funeral ceremony in a village outside Awka when the incident happened and since then she has not been found.”
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Chukwurah emphasized that the incident did not occur within the school premises, clarifying, “It is also important to note that the incident did not happen in the school, we have to be clear about it. We have contacted the relevant security agencies, and the ‘kidnappers’ have contacted the family. Although, we are not aware if they have requested any ransom or not.”
Efforts to reach the Anambra State police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, for comment proved futile as calls and messages to his telephone line went unanswered.
The unsettling disappearance of Francisca Chioma on her journey to attend a burial has sent shockwaves through the university community, prompting collaborative efforts between security agencies and university officials to unravel the mystery behind her disappearance.
