The former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof. Olorunfemi Olaofe, who was abducted on July 9, 2024, has been found dead.
The 79-year-old professor's body was discovered in a shallow grave at a farm settlement along Airport Road, Ijan-Ekiti. The Department of State Service (DSS) in Ekiti State revealed that the abduction was orchestrated by his domestic staff.
Prof. Olaofe was kidnapped from his residence in Ado-Ekiti alongside his security guard.
The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N50 million, which was later reduced to N15 million. However, they remained incommunicado and did not collect the ransom before the professor was found dead.
The Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, confirmed the discovery and stated that several arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
He also mentioned that the security guard employed by the professor was involved in planning the kidnapping. The case will be transferred to the State Police Command for prosecution, having established a case of homicide.
The tragic event has drawn attention from various groups, including the Are Ekiti Progressives Union, the Ekiti Council of Elders, and the Nigerian Universities Pensioners’ Association, EKSU Branch, who had called for intensified efforts to rescue the professor alive. The investigation continues as authorities work to bring all those involved to justice.
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