Armed men shoot former UI VC in failed kidnap attempt

A former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Olufemi Bamiro is currently on admission at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan after he was shot by armed men at Oluyole Estate, Ibadan Oyo State on Tuesday at about 8.30p.m., in what was described by the police as a failed kidnap attempt.

Professor Bamiro, who served between 2005 and November 30, 2010, was the 10th vice chancellor of the premier university and is currently the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that Bamiro and his wife, who drove in Lexus 460 Sport Utility Van (SUV), stopped by at a place near Sharp Corner at Oluyole Estate to make some purchases when hoodlums in a white Mercedes Benz attempted to kidnap him with his vehicle.

It was further gathered that there was a scuffle as the ex-vice chancellor tried to escape being kidnapped, in the process of which the kidnappers shot him at the sole of a foot.

The scuffle was said to have given people an opportunity to alert a nearby patrol team which raced to the scene of the incident.

The kidnappers reportedly abandoned Professor Bamiro in order to escape arrest immediately they sighted the approaching patrol vehicle.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, told the Nigerian Tribune that policemen from Oluyole Division foiled the kidnap attempt.

It was also learnt that the state Commissioner of Police, Sam Adegbuyi, in company with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations in the state command, Sanusi Buba, visited the former vice chancellor at the UCH at about 11:00p.m on Tuesday.

Also speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on the incident, the Director of Public Communication at the University of Ibadan, Mr Tunji Oladejo, said that the institution’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Professor Gbemisola Oke and the Registrar, Mr Olujimi Olukoya visited Bamiro in the hospital on Wednesday on behalf of the university’s management.

Oladejo added that though the Vice Chancellor, Professor Idowu Olayinka, was not around, he had also reached the former vice chancellor on phone and wished him speedy recovery.