The Nigerian National Petroleum Company
(NNPC) confirms that Boko Haram militants
has kidnapped 10 members of the
University of Maiduguri research team
prospecting for oil in northeast Nigeria.
NNPC spokesman Ndu Ughamadu said the
men, working as consultants, were
kidnapped near Jibi village in Borno state on
Tuesday afternoon. The village is in
Magumeri local government area, about 50
km from the state capital, Maiduguri.
“About 10 members of the University of
Maiduguri geology and surveying
department were abducted by suspected
Boko Haram members,” Ughamadu said.
The kidnapped group included academic
staff, drivers and other contractors. The
university also said some of its lecturers,
who were accompanied by security staff,
had not returned on Tuesday from a
prospecting trip.
Its spokesman said the university was
waiting for a report from security agencies.
