Three men who identified themselves as University of Maiduguri workers – two lecturers and a driver – abducted by Boko Haram have appealed to the Federal Government to meet the demands of the terrorist group and secure their freedom.

In a video sent to Channels Television, but which has not been independently verified, two of the men said they were lecturers in the Geology Department of the University and gave their names as Yusuf Ibrahim and Dr Solomon N. Yusuf, while the third man identified himself as Haruna, adding that he was a driver with the university.

The men claimed that they are part of oil workers and academics ambushed and abducted by the Abu Musab al-Barnawi faction of Boko Haram on Tuesday.

The men, however, did not state what the demands of the terrorists are.

Yusuf, who spoke on behalf of the trio, called on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, UNIMAID Vice Chancellor, Professor Ibrahim Njodi, and the NNPC among others to come to their aid.

He also called on the Federal Government to stop the excessive use of force against Boko Haram.

Yusuf said, “I want to call on the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to come to our rescue, to meet the demands of Soldiers of Calipha Abu Musab al-Barnawi. They have promised us that if their demands are met, they will release us immediately to go back to the work we were caught doing.

“I want to call the attention of the entire country; we were captured doing the work of exploration – of acquiring gravity, magnetic and soil geochemistry for exploration in the Nigerian sector of the Chad Basin, which will boost the economy of the nation. We were caught in the line of our service. “I want to call the attention of the Acting President that we have seen the route we took up to this position where we are recording this video right now. I want to advise that the use of excessive force is not the solution. We want to call on the Federal Government to meet these demands and as promised, they will release us immediately.” (Channels TV)

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