| The bodies of the two kidnapped workers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Abubakar A. Malabu and Bashir Danjuma were recovered in the bush in Delta State on Saturday. Malabu and Danjuma were staff of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of the NNPC in Benin, Edo State. They were kidnapped March 13, 2010, by an unknown gang on their way to Delta State University, Abraka, for lectures where they were studying for a Masters Degree in Petroleum Economics. Initially, when the news of their abduction broke out, NNPC officials declined comments. A text message however revealed the shocking news yesterday. The message, composed by one of their colleague Mr F.O. Johnson, read: “Messrs Bashir Danjuma and Malabu A. Ahmad of the NPDC who were declared missing since 13th of March, have been found dead inside a bush in Delta State.” He described the incident as ‘unfortunate and shocking’ adding that the bodies were found on Saturday Morning. Phone calls put through to NNPC’s spokesperson Dr Levi Ajuonuma were not answered and a text message was not replied. Malabu’s brother in-law, Alhaji Adamu Modibbo, however confirmed the story to Daily Trust on phone. He did not give details. The two murdered staff hailed from the northern part of the country, which raised fresh security concern in the oil producing part of the country. Militants in the Niger Delta were known mainly for kidnapping of foreign oil workers and demanding for ransom. Some staff of oil companies resident in Niger Delta who spoke to Daily Trust on the condition of anonymity said they were shocked when they heard what happened to their colleagues. They said they are worried over their security in the Niger Delta region and urged government to fish out and bring the perpetrators to book. “It was really complicated, something must be done”, said one of the NNPC staff working in the Niger Delta. Daily Trust learnt that Danjuma who hailed from Yobe State was employed by NNPC in 2000 while Malabu was employed in 2003 as a geologist from Adamawa State. In 2006 Malabu was loaned to Chevron Nigeria Limited by the NPDC were he attended two year course in United States of America between 2006 and 2008. Malabu survived by his wife and two children. |
Mar222010