The Ekiti State Police Command has launched manhunt for Abdul Opotu, the security guard of the late former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Prof. Femi Olaofe as alleged mastermind behind the kidnapping and murder of the deceased.
Police also disclosed that six persons have been arrested in connection with the kidnap and murder of the late university professor.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the body of Prof. Olaofe was discovered along Airport Road, Ado-Ijan, where it was buried in a shallow grave barely 20 days after his abduction.
Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Sunday Abutu on Thursday said the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Akinwale Adeniran, had ordered a discrete investigation and a painstaking operation to ensure the rescue of Prof. Olaofe, his security guard and arrest of the perpetrators before the discovery of his corpse.
Abutu said the six suspects who are presently undergoing investigation were arrested at different times after the abduction of the university teacher.
“This led to the arrest of one Omowaye Ayodele at Bencom Guest House, Akure, Ondo State.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to the commission of the crime and mentioned one Kenneth, Amodu Gbenga, Nnamani Chukwuka and Ojо a.k.a Ojo ljan as his accomplices.
“He also confessed further that Abdul Opotu who was the security guard of the victim, Olaofe, was the one who invited them to kidnap the late Professor,” Abutu said.
The security guard, according to him, was not kidnapped alongside the professor as earlier reported, but only played along and made the operation easier for them.
“Omowaye Ayodele confessed that the two AK-47 rifles used to kidnap the Professor were in possession of Kenneth who is currently at large,” the PPRO said.
Abutu said further investigation led to the arrest of Amodu Gbenga 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, Off Ijan Road, Ado-Ekiti.
“The two suspects led the police operatives to their hideouts for the possible rescue of the victim, but it was discovered that the gang in custody of the victim had already relocated with the victim to another unknown location.
“Further investigation on 30/07/2024 led to the discovery of a shallow grave in a bush located at 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 the Ministry of Environment and some Medical Practitioners to the scene where the corpse was exhumed and later identified as the earlier kidnapped Professor OlaOfe,” Abutu said.
He added that the corpse has been deposited At Ekiti State Teaching Hospital Morgue, Ado-Ekiti, for autopsy.
The police image maker further said that efforts were ongoing for the possible arrest of the fleeing members of the gangs, including the security guard who masterminded the crime.