We’re close to arresting Bamiro’s kidnap suspects —Oyo CP

Commissioner of Police, Oyo State command, Sam Adegbuyi, has assured that security agencies were closing in on arresting the suspects of Tuesday night’s attempted kidnap of a former vice chancellor of University of Ibadan, Professor Olufemi Bamiro.

Adegbuyi gave this assurance in Ibadan, on Thursday, while receiving communication house and gadgets donated to the police force by the State Security Trust Fund.

He, however, said more detailed information on the police’s efforts in the incident would be divulged as soon as investigation was concluded.

“We are very much close to the arrest of the suspects, but information has to be properly managed. We are not leaving any stone unturned and we will keep the members of the public posted when investigation is concluded,” Adegbuyi said.

Handing over the communication house located at Mapo hall, Ibadan, to the police, Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Security, Mr Segun Bolarinwa, urged the police to make use of the gadgets to enhance effective communication in preventing and combating crime in the state.

“For effective policing, communication is very essential. This communication house and gadgets, including walkie-talkies and repeater station, being handed over to the police force, will enhance security in the state,” Bolarinwa said.

Lauding the donation by the Oyo State Security Trust Fund, Adegbuyi reiterated the importance of communication, especially communication gadgets, in preventing and combating crime.

“The success of anything we do relies on communication. The effective use of this communication edifice will go a long way in combating crime in Oyo State. The usefulness will not be limited to Oyo State as our counterparts in other neighbouring states do come for our assistance.

“I pledge to ensure the effective use this facility to the best use of God and humanity. This is just one of the security assistance rendered by the state government for the use of the men of the state police command,” Adegbuyi said.

Meanwhile, following the kidnap attempt which eventually resulted in the shooting of the former vice chancellor of the University of lbadan, Professor Olufemi Adebisi Bamiro by unknown gunmen, the University of Ibadan Alumni Association, Abuja chapter, on Thursday, condemned the attack in its entirety.

The alumni, in a statement entitled: “This barbarism must stop now,” described the incident as barbaric, crude and heinous, insisting that it must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians.

The statement, which was signed by Barrister lsmail Alasa and Dr Chinasa Okechukwu, the chairman and secretary, respectively, stated that the Alumni was deeply saddened by the attack and strongly affirmed that “this continuous acts of violent attack on innocent Nigerians, no matter the motives behind them, are completely unacceptable if we must make progress as a country.”

The statement added that “Professor Bamiro is a renowned Nigerian academic, who has served this country meritoriously in several capacities and has continued to do so. His attack is, therefore, unfounded and an attempt to cut short the life of a budding academic, who has continued to contribute to the development of Nigeria.

“As law-abiding Nigerians, the University of Ibadan Alumni Association, Abuja, kindly urge the security agencies and the necessary authorities to swiftly deal with the situation, apprehend the culprits and bring them to book immediately.