Kidnappers Demand N50million For Former UI Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Others Abducted On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Professor Adigun Agbaje, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) of the University of Ibadan, was abducted recently.

Now, the gunmen who abducted him have reportedly demanded N50million ransom for his release.

Agbaje, who is currently on sabbatical at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), was on his way to Ibadan at about 6pm on Friday when kidnappers blocked his way very close to the Sat Guru Maharaji Garden and abducted him.

A UI source said the kidnappers “eliminated some policemen around the scene” before making away with their captives.”

The abductors have since contacted Agbaje’s family to demand a N50million ransom.

Adigun Agbaje, a professor of Political Science, is one of UI’s most respected products ever.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that at least one police officer was killed and another injured during the face-off with the kidnappers on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Friday night.

The development had generated tension along the expressway as several other vehicles aborted the trips to their destination and drove in the opposite direction.

The Oyo State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Adewale Osifeso, in a statement on Saturday said the police officers attached to the Toll-Gate responded to the sporadic gunshots during which an officer was killed.

He said four abandoned vehicles were recovered from the abduction scene.

According to the statement, “On Friday 28/10/2022 at about 1835HRS, Operatives of the Command attached to Toll-Gate Division received information about sporadic gunshots heard along the Dominion University end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“In swift response to the above, the Divisional Police Officer led a team comprising; Anti-crime patrol operatives, tactical teams, Police Mobile men and local hunters for immediate rescue and further intervention.

“During the process of prevailing and preventing further chaos from what was evidently an abduction scenario, an Officer attached to the Command paid the supreme price with one other badly injured and presently responding to treatment.

“So far, expended ammunition shells and (4) four abandoned vehicles were retrieved at the scene.”

He added that the Commission of Police CP Adebowale Williams had ordered a full scale scientific and technological aided investigation to unravel the incidents leading to the incident.

Osifeso therefore urged residents within and outside the area to be on the lookout for gunshot victims.

“Updates would be provided accordingly as the investigation unfolds, please,” he said.