By Omolade Adegbuyi and Ologeh Joseph Chibu
The Ekiti State Police Command has been asked to secure the release of a Professor of Industrial Chemistry kidnapped on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti.
Professor Femi Olaofe was seized presumably at gun point by unknown men who stormed his residence in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday.
He hails from Are- Ekiti located in Irepodun-Ifelodun Local Government Area of the State.
The Are Development Association (ÀŔEDAA) in a statement made available to Irohinoodua charged the Ekiti State Police Command to do evertthing humanly possible to secure the release of Professor Femi Oloaofe.
Residents of Ekiti State Housing Estate, Ado- Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital were thrown into confusion on Tuesday when efforts to locate the Professor in his house failed.
The Professor of Industrial Chemistry retired not too long ago from Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti.
Locals said the Don returned to his house on Monday but was kidnapped on Tuesday.
Earlier he was in Lagos to visit his children.
“He is a very good man well known in the neighbourhood. We noticed his gate was left open for hours. This prompted the people to visit the house. By the time we did, his living room up to his bedroom were left open. It was then we raised alarm” one local told Irohinoodua.
She said some witnesses claimed they saw three “strange armed men” visited the house
The source said Ekiti like many communities in the South West in the past years has continued to witness invasion of “strange people with hidden agenda.”
The Ekiti State Assistant Secretary, Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, (AYDM) Mr Adeniran Obalola said the group is worried that kidnappers are now visiting private homes to seize their victims. He said the State Governor Mr Abiodun Oyebanji is working hard to stem crime but that his efforts are frustrated partly by the unitary structure of Nigeria which vests security affairs in the Federal Government.
The Are-Ekiti Development Association (ÀŔEDAA) led by the President, Engr. James Adebayo, said the leadership had met with the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr. Adeniran Akinwale on the sad development.
He said the leadership of the community based groups conveyed the concerns of the Kabiyesi Alare of Are-Ekiti, Oba Boluade Adebiyi, Olofinkinmileyin III, ÀŔEDAA and the entire people of Are Ekiti to the Commissioner of Police.
The ÀŔEDAA Public Relations Officer, Hon. Odunayo Ehinafe, Engr. Adebayo said “We have come to meet with you on the sad incident of the kidnap of our illustrous son and a professor of repute, Professor Femi Olaofe. We received the the news of our son kidnap with sadness. Professor Olaofe was kidnapped in his residence in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday after he returned from a short trip to Lagos. On behalf of the Kabiyesi Alare of Are Ekiti, ÀRÉDAA and the entire people of our community, we wish to charge you to do everything humanly possible to bring Olaofe back home alive.”
The CP Akinwale was said to have confirmed the kidnap and promised the police would arrest the criminals.
He 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.
Akinwale also told the team that the Ekiti Police Command has also received information on the demand for a N50m ransom by the kidnappers. So with this development, we can confirm to you that this is a case of kidnapping.
The CP was said to have 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.
