Ondo Varsity Worker Abducted From Home, One Other Rescued By Police

By Ayodele Oni

Two staff members of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), one of them Omoniyi Eleyinmi, were abducted from their homes by gunmen in Supare Akoko, Ondo State, on Monday evening.

Eleyinmi, an officer in the Faculty of Education and member of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), was abducted around 7:00 p.m. at his house along the Akungba-Supare road.

The other victim, whose identity could not be immediately known, was reported to have been rescued by policemen, while being taken away.

According to reports, the gunmen arrived at Eleyinmi’s residence, shooting sporadically into the air to scare away residents.

Unfortunately,  while this was ongoing, Eleyinmi arrived at his house while the gunmen were still present and was immediately seized and taken away. His wife, who was at home during the incident, narrowly escaped the attack.

This latest kidnapping incident highlights the growing concern over security in the state, particularly in the Akoko area.

Within a month two students of the University were kidnapped with their decomposing bodies recovered after days of searching, while another female student was allegedly hacked to death by her girl friend.

In June, the Nigerian Police uncovered a suspected kidnappers’ den in Epinmi Akoko, arresting two suspects and recovering dangerous weapons and modified burglary-proof compartments believed to have been used to confine kidnap victims

The kidnapping of Eleyinmi has sent shockwaves through the university community, with many calling for increased security measures to protect staff and students.

The spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident.

According to the command’s spokesperson, two staff members of the institution were initially kidnapped, but a swift response from police operatives led to the rescue of one of the victims.

“The Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, has directed that the rescued individual be debriefed to extract useful intelligence that could aid the rescue of the remaining victim, he said.”