TRIBUNE
FAMILY and friends of a lecturer in the University of Ibadan, Professor Opeyemi Ajewole, who was murdered in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday night, have continued to express shock and disbelief, with tears strewing their faces. The incident has also continued to generate comments, as people wonder on what could have caused the killing of someone belonging to academic world.
The University of Ibadan, where Prof. Ajewole worked until his gruesome killing, has been grieving since the incident occurred, with his department, Social and Environmental Forestry, and the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, under which his department falls, wearing mournful looks. When the Nigerian Tribune visited the department on Wednesday, the deceased’s colleagues were gathered, talking in hushed tones, as, later learnt, they were preparing to pay a condolence visit to the bereaved family.
Nigerian Tribune was also at the residence of the deceased at Duku Close, Orogun, Ibadan, where scores of sympathisers were seen commiserating with the deceased’s wife, Mrs Yemisi Ajewole.
Seating on a sofa with the support of family members and friends around her, the wife now turned widow kept a stoic look, welcoming the thronging sympathisers. Among them were the Dean of Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Prof. Abiodun Oluwadare; the Head of Department, Social and Environmental Forestry, Prof Ismail Azeez; and lecturers in all the departments under the faculty.
In Nigerian Tribune’s findings from the family and a credible source, the lecturer was already at the gate of his house when the gunshot was heard. The assailants, it was further learnt, came in a gold colour Toyota Camry (Big Daddy). A source close to the scene of the scene reportedly heard a shout: “Come back here.” What followed was the sound of the gunshot, after which doors of cars were slammed and the assailants sped off.
With the thought that it was a kidnap case, the family ran to the police station at Ojoo to lodge a report. On learning of it, the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams, reportedly ordered patrol teams to take positions while others started patrolling the adjoining areas in search for the victim so as to rescue him.
