Administrators at the University of the West Indies, Mona, are now tightening security on the campus after a lecturer was abducted from the campus by gunmen Thursday night.

Anthropologist and popular talk show host, Dr. Kingsley 'Ragashanti' Stewart, was held up and abducted by gunmen from the Social Sciences car park.

Reports are that about 7:00 in the evening, Dr. Stewart was heading to his car after completing a class when he was approached by a young man, who appeared to be a student. He then pulled a gun and threatened Dr. Stewart before forcing him into his car and driving off.

He was driven in the vicinity of the Mona High School where the gunmen switched cars after binding and blindfolding Stewart and putting him in the trunk. Dr. Stewart was then driven around for hours in the trunk before being released by the gunmen in an open lot near the community of Elletson Flats in Mona.

His car, licensed firearm and jewellery were stolen by the men. The Half-Way Tree police are investigating.

Responding to Gleaner queries, a still obviously traumatised Dr. Stewart said he was thankful for life.

"I utilised every trick in the book I knew from my training in psychotherapy in order to bond with them [and] to frame myself in such a way that it would decrease the probability of them actually killing me and so forth," he told The Gleaner with what seemed to be tears in his eyes.

The incident has now coerced the university, which has been plagued with security concerns for some time, to take further action to ensure the safety of staff and students. In August, a female medical student residing in Irvine Hall was hospitalised after she was stabbed several times by a man, reported to be her boyfriend, in her dormitory.

In a statement to the media yesterday, the university said it deplored the incident and was putting immediate measures in place to improve security.

On Friday, the campus adjusted security within faculties. Bike patrols were extended from 7:00 in the evening till 10:00 p.m.

The campus has also been improving security lighting along walk ways and car parks. A pilot project to install surveillance cameras in key locations on campus is also being instituted.

Read Dr. 'Ragashanti' Stewart's account of the ordeal in tomorrow's Sunday Gleaner.