A former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) at the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, Professor Femi Olaofe has been kidnapped.
Olaofe, LEADERSHIP gathered, was kidnapped on Tuesday alongside his gateman in his residence located at the Housing Estate on Afao Road in Ado- Ekiti, the Ekiti State’s capital.
The incident, according to a source, occured a day after the retired Professor of Industrial Chemistry returned from a short visit to Lagos, where he had gone to see his children.
The abductors of the Are Ekiti- born former university lecturer were said to have contacted his family and demanded N50 million ransom for his release.
The source who does not want his name in the print said, ”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 opened. This was strange, because the gate is always closed. We approached the gate with the intention to call the security man to shut the gate. We called the security man, 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 for the key to his car. We learnt that he was taken away in the car along with his security man.”
Meanwhile, the Are- Ekiti Development Association (ÀŔEDAA) has charged the Ekiti State Police Command to do everything humanly possible to rescue professor Olaofe from his abductors, saying the gunmen are demanding the sum of N50 million for his release.
The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State, Akinwale Adeniran who confirmed the abduction said the Command has received information on the demand for a N50 million ransom by the kidnappers.
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’s Olaofe personal vehicle in which he was kidnapped from his residence.
“The vehicle was recovered in a bush along Oke-Ila-Afao Road, where it was abandoned by the kidnappers”.
He, however, assured the family and relations of the victim that the Ekiti State Police Command would do everything within their powers to get him back home safely.
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