Are-Ekiti Development Association (ÀŔEDAA) has charged the Ekiti State Police Command to do everything humanly possible to secure the release of Professor Femi Oloaofe, the Ekiti University Don who was recently kidnapped at his Ado Ekiti residence.
Residents of Ekiti State Housing Estate, Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital were on Tuesday greeted with the news of the kidnap of a retired university don, Professor Femi Olaofe.
Olaofe, a native of Are-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun local government was a Professor of Industrial Chemistry before his recent retirement from the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti.
An eyewitness account of the incident told our reporter that Professor Olaofe returned to Ado Ekiti on Monday after a short visit to Lagos, where he had gone to see his children.
The source who would not want to be mentioned 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 open. This was strange because the gate was 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, and 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.
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.
ÀŔEDAA wades in
Earlier today, a three-man team of Are-Ekiti Development Association (ÀŔEDAA) led by the President, Engr. James Adebayo met with the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr. Adeniran Akinwale on the sad development.
Speaking at the meeting, Adebayo conveyed the message 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.
According to a statement by 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 illustrious son and a professor of repute, Professor Femi Olaofe. We received the news of our son’s 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.
In his response at the meeting, Commissioner of Police (CP) Akinwale confirmed that they had received the report of the kidnap incident of Professor Olaofe on Tuesday at his residence in Ado Ekiti.
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 the 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 #50 million ransom by the kidnappers. So with this development, we can confirm to you that this is a case of kidnapping.
Akinwale 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.
“My only concern is that, as an elderly man, we must pray to God to grant him the strength and energy to wade through the rigours”, he concluded
Sons and daughters of Are-Ekiti both at home and in the Diaspora have continued to call on the Ekiti State Police Command, the Nigerian Social and Civil Security Defence Corps, Amutekun and all other security agencies to join hands together to ensure that their son is brought back home alive.
