Some unknown gunmen have reportedly abducted Professor Femi Olaofe, a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti.
The Editor Nigeria learnt that Olaofe was taken hostage on Tuesday with his bodyguard at his home in the Housing Estate on Afao Road in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State’s capital.
It is worth noting that the kidnapping took place a day after the retired Professor of Industrial Chemistry came back from a brief trip to Lagos to visit his children.
The kidnappers of the Ekiti-born former university professor have reportedly reached out to his family and requested a ransom of ₦50 million for his safe return.
“We saw him on Monday when he returned from his trip to Lagos. We greeted and exchanged pleasantries. We also saw his gateman, who lives with him. As a retired Professor, his house is very calm and always quiet. We have been neighbours for a long time. Anytime he drives out, he will always wait to say hello.
”On Tuesday, we noticed that the gate of his house was left open. This was strange because the gate is always closed. We approached the gate with the intention of calling the security man to shut the gate. We called the security man, but there was no answer.
”We made our way into the living room, as we got closer, we noticed the door to the living room was widely opened. We shouted Professor, thrice! There was no response. We decided to go around the compound, and yet we couldn’t find anyone. At this point, we became suspicious that something had happened. We, thereafter, decided to approach the Divisional Police Station, Housing Estate, where we made a report and the police quickly swung into action.
”It was yesterday that we had a report of how some kidnappers came into his house and demanded the key to his car. We learnt that he was taken away in the car along with his security man,” a source who pleaded anonymity told Leadership.
The Are-Ekiti Development Association (ÀŔEDAA) has urged the Ekiti State Police Command to make every effort to secure the release of Professor Olaofe from his captors, as the gunmen are requesting a ransom of ₦50 million for his freedom.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Akinwale Adeniran, verified the kidnapping and stated that the Command was aware of the ransom demand of N50 million by the abductors.
Adeniran said, ”I want to confirm to you the news report of the kidnap of Professor Femi Olaofe, a former deputy vice-chancellor of Ekiti State University which took place in his residence at the State Housing Estate, Oke-Ila Ado Ekiti.
“The Ekiti Police Command had commenced investigations into the matter. We want to inform you that, my men have recovered Professor Olaofe’s personal vehicle in which he was kidnapped from his residence.
“The vehicle was recovered in a bush along Oke-Ila-Afao Road, where the kidnappers abandoned it”.
The Police Commissioner, however, guaranteed the family and relatives of the victim that the Ekiti State Police Command would make every effort to ensure his safe return home.
