Kidnappers kill abducted Ekiti varsity ex-DVC

The former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti (EKSU), Prof. Olorunfemi Olaofe, has been murdered by those who kidnapped him.

The 79-year-old professor was kidnapped by unknown gunmen at his residence in a housing estate along Afao Road in Ado Ekiti on July 9, 2024.

The kidnappers, sources said, had earlier contacted the family of the late professor a few days after he was abducted, demanding a ransom payment of N50 million.

He spent three weeks in the den of the kidnappers before his dead body was allegedly discovered by the security forces combing the bush around the Ekiti International Cargo Airport.

His death has been announced in a statement by the President of his town union, the Are-Ekiti Progressive Union, Prof. Olufemi Oke.

According to the union, the information was passed to them by security agents during a meeting.

The statement with the caption “Untimely Death of Our Community Leader” read: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the untimely death of our community leader.

“The information was given to the Executive of Are-Ekiti Progressive Union today in our meeting with the security agents of the government. His remains were found in a shallow grave along Airport Road.

“This is indeed a great loss to Are-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria, and the global academic community.”

When contacted by newsmen, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, confirmed the incident, saying that his body has been found and everything is being done to prepare him for burial.

“Yes, the professor has been found dead and we are doing everything possible to exhume the body for burial.

“However, we have arrested many people, and you know the circumstances surrounding the incident. We suspect insider involvement, with the security guard employed by the professor being the one who planned it.

“They (abductors) kidnapped the man with him so that we would not suspect. In the process of rescuing him, we have arrested some people. I can’t say much about the security guard, but at the appropriate time, we will brief the public.”