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Attack on oil workers in Lake Chad basin claims three UNIMAID lecturers

UNIMAID7

Kayode Idowu

No fewer than three lecturers of the University of Maiduguri may have died during Tuesday’s ambush on an oil exploration team in the Lake Chad Basin, it has been revealed.

An investigation by our correspondent revealed that five lecturers from the UNIMAID were part of the exploration team.

There are indications that all the five might have died.

Names of the deceased three were given as: Dr. Joseph Millitus, Dr. Manaja Uba and Idris Njodi.

A relation of one of the deceased (Dr. Joseph Millitus), Daniel Millitus, told our correspondent that the family was still in grief over the loss of one of its “rising stars.”

Daniel Millitus, who is a pastor in one of the parishes of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Maiduguri, said the family has started making arrangements for the burial of their son.

Another relation of a slain lecturer (Dr. Manaja Uba), said the family was still in shock and found it difficult to believe that “Manaja is no more.”

She lamented that another relative (Yusuf Ibrahim), also in the exploration team, was still missing.

When contacted on phone by journalists, the spokesman of the University of Maiduguri, Prof. Danjuma Gambo, said he was in Abuja and, therefore, had limited access to information on happenings in the institution.

He, however, promised to get more information on the claims as soon as he returns to the campus.

The Army, in a press statement on Wednesday by its spokesman, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, had claimed that all the NNPC staff abducted in the Tuesday’s ambush had been rescued.

Usman, in the statement, said: “On receipt of the information, the Brigade mobilised and sent reinforcement, search-and-rescue party that include the Armed Forces Special Forces and guides that worked and pursued the terrorists throughout the night.

“So far, they have rescued all the NNPC staff and recovered the corpses of the officer, eight soldiers and a civilian who have been evacuated to 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital.

“The team recovered four vehicles, one of which include a gun truck mounted with an Anti-Aircraft Gun, two white Hilux taken away from NNPC staff and one blue Hilux belonging to CJTF.

“The team also recovered large quantities of arms and ammunition, several spare tyres, many jerry cans of containing petroleum, oil and lubricant, assorted drugs, Improvised Explosive Device making materials, reflective jackets and a Motorola handheld radio, among others.

“The team also neutralised many of the terrorists.”

The Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Col. Kingsley Samuel, when contacted on the matter, said it was not within the purview of the 7 Division where he is the spokesman.

He said, “You have to get in contact with Abuja on this, as I have no available information. It is under the 8 Division.”

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