A community self-help group, Are-Ekiti Development Association (ÀRÉDAA) has declared a three-day mourning for the repose of the soul of a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof. Olorunfemi Olaofe, who died in kidnappers’ den with his body found in a grave along new Afao-Airport Rad last Wednesday after he was kidnapped in his Ado Ekiti residence on the 9 July 2024.
In a statement on Friday by its Public Relations Officer, Hon. Odunayo Ehinafe; and Secretary General, Hon. Yemi Akinbode, ÀRÉDAA called on the police and all security operatives in Ekiti State to ensure the safe return of one of its founding fathers and a member of its Board of Trustees (BoT).
The group mourned the passing of the Are Ekiti icon and leader of thought, and commiserated with hos family, especially his children, who went through a very difficult time and harrowing experience in attempts to rescue their father alive.
The statement further read: “On behalf of the BoT, Executive Council and ÀŔEDAA general assembly, we wish to mourn the passing of our icon and leader of thought, Prof. Olorunfemi Olaofe whose sad event took place on Wednesday 31st July 2004 when his corpse was found in the kidnappers’ den It is indeed a sad day for us in Are Ekiti, a sad day for Ekiti State and Nigeria as a whole.
“We received the news of the death of Prof. Olaofe with grief of heart and sorrow in our minds. We had patiently waited for the safe and sound return of our great leader, after he was kidnapped on the 9th of July 2024.
“We had prayed to God, waiting fervently and hoping for his safe return and reunion with his family. We did not envisaged that Prof. Olaofe would eventually be killed by his abductors, even after they had collected a whooping ransom from the family.
“At this juncture, and with all sense of submission, coupled with the theory surrounding his death, we want to place our hope in God. We believe in the biblical injunction that says, ‘it is God that gives life, and it is God that can take the life of any human’.
“It might have pleased God to allow the abductors to succeed in taking his life at this material time. If so, who are we mortals to question the wisdom of God.
“Prof. Olaofe has ran a good race, he has fought a good fight. All we can wish him is that God almighty in His infinite mercy will accept his gentle soul to dwell amongst the Saints in heavens.
“We want to also use this opportunity to commiserate with his family over the great and painful loss. May the good Lord grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”.
The group reiterated the urgent need by the Police and other security operatives in Ekiti State to work tirelessly to ensure the perpetrators of the heinous crime are brought to justice.
It appealed to the state government to be more proactive in terms of security of lives and property. The group further said: “We must be proactive in terms of response and management of security breaches in the state. The kidnap and eventual death of Prof. Olaofe, a former deputy vice chancellor of EKSU, 23 days after he was kidnapped from his residence in Ado Ekiti, speaks volume about the worsening security situation in Ekiti State.
“May we remind ourselves as a people, that one of the key duties of government is the security of lives and property. The government of Ekiti must therefore, rise up to her responsibility – the security of the citizens. The circumstance that surrounds the death of Prof. Olaofe should worry all of us. If a highly placed Professor can die like that, we wonder what the situation would hold for the ordinary citizen. We want to use this medium to call on the Police to ensure the perpetrators of this act are brought to justice”.
Olaofe was born in 1945 in Are Ekiti. He attended Are/Afao United Primary School from 1952 to 1959. He also attended Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti, and Ekiti Parapo College , Ido-Ekiti for his secondary education (1962-69).
He was an undergraduate at the University of Ibadan from 1970 to 1974; and at the University of Escadee Holland for his Master’s degree between 1975/76.
Olaofe obtained his Ph.D from the University of Bath United Kingdom between 1978-1983.
One unique thing that is worthy of note about Oloaofe’s life is that, because of lack of money, he dropped out of Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti to become a radio repair technician/apprentice before he later joined Ekiti Parapo College, Ido-Ekiti in January 1967, where he eventually completed his secondary school, education.
He is survived by four children, among them are three males.
