Ogun: Gunmen abduct ex-Provost, driver
By Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
Unknown gunmen have abducted the immediate past Provost of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Osile, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Dr. Ayodele Adetayo Ajayi.
Our correspondent gathered that, Ajayi was abducted alongside his wife and driver, around 7.17pm on Tuesday, at Ikija village, Olodo axis of the Abeokuta-Ibadan road in Odeda Local government of Ogun state.
It was further gathered that, Ajayi’s wife was later released by the abductors while he and his driver were taken away.
A resident of the area who spoke to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity said, the gunmen came out of the bush to attack Ajayi and other motorists along the road.
He added that, the gunmen who shot sporadically into the air blocked the road and whisked their victims away.
The source who lamented the increasing rate of abduction at Olodo axis of the Abeokuta-Ibadan road, alleged that no fewer than five persons have been kidnapped in the last one week in the area.
“Just yesterday, the gunmen abducted five persons, but two out of them were later released.
“Also, last month, three people were killed. Among those who were killed was a popular businessman who operated a big farm along the axis.
“The Olu of Odeda in Odeda town, Oba David Olorunisola was almost kidnapped this week while his driver was shot and his still receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC).
“We need help, this is getting too much. Our people are no longer safe, we need government’s intervention and security agencies to wake up to their responsibilities,” the source said.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state police command, Omolola Odutola confirmed the incident to our correspondent, adding that the police and other security operatives are on the trail of the abductors.
Odutola said, “Through a distress call from a passenger who called Ogun State Police Command Incident toll lines at about 6:13pm on Tuesday 25th July 2023, the voice echoed in panic that the road on which their bus was plying was blocked by armed robbers and that they were forced to park. Not quite long, I received a direct message from a staff of Federal College of Education that their immediate past provost , Dr. Ayodele Ajayi was kidnapped on his way from Olodo to Abeokuta some minutes back.
“There is however no cause for alarm as the CP has deployed operational teams and detectives of the Ogun Police Command to go after the yet to be identified gunmen. Those kidnapped will be rescued as assured by CP Alamutu Abiodun because all the security agencies are on joint operation combing the bush. The Police, Amotekun, Vigillante and hunters have been mobilised into the forest on strict order to apprehend the gunmen and rescue the victims alive.
“The wife of the man was also kidnapped but was later left behind due to the hot chase from the policemen, she has been taken to the hospital, the gunmen abandoned the victim’s vehicle but took him and his driver with them. Though it was from other sources the police got an unconfirmed identity of who the kidnappers took away to be Dr. Adetayo Ajayi of Osiele Abeokuta.
“The details are skeletal but once any review is available from the policemen trailing the kidnappers ,updates would be made available to the public,” she explained.
