From Victor Akinkuolie,

Ado-Ekiti

The Ekiti State Police command has confirmed the arrest of six suspects in connection with the abduction and killing of Prof. Femi Olaofe, the former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.

The police, in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Sunday Abutu, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr Akinwale Adeniran, disclosed this on Thursday.

He said: “An unknown gang of armed men allegedly stormed the residence of one Professor Femi Olaofe at 15th Avenue, Federal Housing Estate Ado-Ekiti,  kidnapped him alongside his security guard, one Abdul Opotu, and took them to an unknown destination with the professor’s Toyota Camry Car.

“Upon the receipt of the information, the Command deployed operatives of the Rapid Response Squad(RRS) to the scene for possible rescue of the victims and the arrest of the perpetrators, but other members of the gang, had already whisked the victims away before the arrival of the Operatives.

“The operatives combed the forest between Ado-Ekiti and Afao-Ekiti and recovered the Professor Olaofe’s Camry car.

“The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Akinwale Adeniran, immediately ordered a discreet investigation and a painstaking operation to ensure the rescue of the victims and arrest of the perpetrators.

“This led to the arrest of one Omowaye Ayodele a.k.a A.Y at Bencom Guest House, Akure, Ondo State.

“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the crime and mentioned one Kenneth, Amodu Gbenga a.k.a Toro, Nnamani Chukwuka a.k.a Amechi and Ojо a.k.a Ojo ljan, as his accomplices.

” He confessed further that Abdul Opotu who was the security guard of the victim, was the one who invited them to kidnap the Professor.”

According to him, the security guard was not kidnapped alongside the professor as earlier reported, but only played along and made the operation easier for the gunmen.

The statement added: “Omowaye Ayodele confessed that the two AK-47 rifles used to kidnap the Professor were in possession of Kenneth, who is at large.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of Amodu Gbenga a.k.a Toro, who also confessed to the commission of the crime during investigation and further narrated how he used to supply food and water to the gang members in their hideouts located in a bush behind Government College, kff Ijan Road, Ado-Ekiti.

“The two suspects led police operatives to their hideouts where they kept the victim. But on getting there, they discovered that the gang in custody of the victim had already relocated with him to another unknown location.

“Further investigation on 30/07/2024 led to the discovery of a shallow grave in a bush located along off Afao Road, behind the new Airport site, Ado-Ekiti, where a human being was suspectedly killed and buried. Consequently, Order of Exhumation and Coroner Forms were obtained from the Magistrate Court, Ado-Ekiti, while the Ministry of Environment was contacted.

“On 31/07/2024, the Police led some officials of the Ministry of Environment and some medical practitioners to the scene where the corpse was exhumed and later identified as the body of the kidnapped Professor, Femi Olaofe,”he added.

The corpse has been deposited at Ekiti State Teaching Hospital Morgue, Ado-Ekiti, for autopsy.

“Effort is ongoing for the possible arrest of the fleeing members of the gang, including the security guard of the kidnapped and murdered Professor, who masterminded the crime.

Meanwhile, six suspects arrested, are in police custody undergoing investigation.”