I narrowly escaped death after been shot at-Agbaje ex UI DVC

Former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), University of Ibadan, Prof Adewale Adigun Agbaje, on Tuesday narrated how he cheated death when he was kidnapped on Friday night on the Ibadan-Lagos expressway along with four others.

Spokesman of the Oyo State Police Command, Adewale Osifeso, had on Monday, confirmed the release of Prof. Agbaje from the dens of his abductors.

Agbaje, along with other travellers, including two female students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, were on Friday night kidnapped by gunmen in military uniform around Dominion University, on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Prof. Agbaje, who is the chair of the Oba Sikiru Adetona Institute for Governance at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, said his kidnappers shot at his head but was lucky to have escaped instant death.

In his message of appreciation, Agbaje said: “It’s a new day today and I’m happy to be alive. I was released by my kidnappers yesterday (Sunday) evening after spending two nights in the thick forests of Ogun and Oyo states. My mind goes to the five others who are still left with the kidnappers: two young ladies, two young men and a middle aged person.

“I was shot at in the head during the abduction process. I thank God that the bullet that went through my car’s windscreen left only a skin deep wound on my head even though it left a gaping hole in the cap I was wearing. I did not even know about this till Saturday morning when I saw caked blood on my cap.

“I am undergoing comprehensive health checks and so it may take some time to thank all my family, including my in-laws, friends and in-laws to my children, my own friends, colleagues and all Nigerians.”

It was also reported that the two kidnapped students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, identified as Olayemi Adejare and Oluwatobi Orekoya have also been released.

They were released after the payment of the ransom gathered by their families, mates and good Samaritans.

Quoting sources close to the victims, Punch reported that the students have now been reunited with their families.

The students’ union of the institution had been soliciting funds from members of the public to realize the ransom demanded for their mates

The abductors had demanded N10m each for the students.

The bandits later agreed to collect N2m for each of the students and gave the family a deadline of Sunday evening.

After the ransom was dropped the bandits reportedly released the students.

Oluwatobi’s family member, Segun Orekoya, confirmed that she had been released together with her friends.