Mrs Herietta Olomo, wife of a missing lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, in Osun state, Prof. James Olomo, has lamented that security agencies have stopped searching for her husband who went missing three years ago.
This is just as lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU), OAU Branch, also expressed displeasure with the inability of security agencies to rescue the missing professor.
They lamented that the vacuum left by the missing professor was yet to be filled, adding that government should renew its rescue efforts.
The wife, family members and lecturers spoke at a special congress organised in honour of the missing professor on Thusday.
Olomo, a renowned Professor of Nuclear Physics at OAU, Ile‑Ife went missing on October 19, 2013 after he travelled to Eket in Akwa Ibom State on the invitation of Mobil Oil Unlimited.
While complaining that government has not been supportive enough, the wife of the missing professor appealed to Nigerians to speak up on behalf of her family.
She said little prominence was placed on getting her husband rescued.
She said, “Nobody deserves to go through what we are going through. I wish the government could have done better. I personally wrote to the then Ministry of Education but didn’t get any response up till now. I also visited the ministry but was not attended. The minister didn’t even bother to send me a note.
“I feel neglected and let down by the government. I think we don’t value life in this country. We need to be more considerate to others and feel what they have been going through. It is comforting to know that someone is there for you.
”It is painful that with his calibre, there has been no recognition. His case should be taken serious even if he is a beggar. I am pleading with Nigerians to rise up for the safe rescue of my husband.”
She subsequently appealed to government to intensify its efforts in making sure that her husband is found.
The Vice Chairperson of ASUU-OAU, Deborah Makinde, challenged security agencies to prove their worth by rescuing the missing lecturer.
“Several efforts to get Prof James Olomo rescued have not yielded the required result.
We won’t relent but urge security agencies to rescue him the way they have been doing for others. They should set up a special search team to get him rescued,” she added.
