Two students escape Nigerian violence

In the wake of news reports of civil unrest leaving hundreds dead in Nigeria, two UMKC students conducting research in the country returned home safely Aug. 2.

Sophomore Jim Grindley and Senior Victoria Mulugeta first arrived in Nigeria on July 1 to conduct research on soil and water at Lake Chad Basin in the northeast corner of the country.

They were accompanied by students Mona-Lisa Banks and Grato Ndunguru and professor Shade Adisa from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo.

On July 17, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for Nigeria.

According to the advisory, an alliance of militant groups were attacking oil facilities and had clashed with government forces.

The advisory also stated that more than 54 foreign national oil workers and business people have been kidnapped since January 2008.

Foreign visitors have also reportedly been victims of armed robberies, muggings, kidnappings, carjacking and break-ins, although Americans are not being specifically targeted.

The group received police transport on July 28 from a hotel in Maiduguri, a city near the research site, to Yola, a city on the country's eastern border. From Yola, they flew to the country's capital, Abuja, and were taken to the U.S. embassy.

Finally, on July 29, an announcement was made to the UMKC community stating that the group was safe and expected to return soon.

In an e-mail sent campus-wide, Chancellor Leo Morton explained that the university learned about the situation on the afternoon of July 28.

The university did not release the students' names or the group's itinerary, citing the need to preserve their continued safety and security.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation and will update the UMKC community as necessary," Morton said. "I ask that you join me in keeping this group in our thoughts and prayers as we await their safe return."

The university did not release any further comment upon the students' arrival.

U-News has been in contact with Grindley and Mulugeta since they returned home at the beginning of August. They both said their lives have been very hectic since they arrived back in Kansas City.

alang@unews.com