Tragedy struck on Tuesday evening when suspected gunmen killed a lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Dr Deji Adejobi, at his residence near the toll gate in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Narrating the incident, Adejobi’s gateman said assailants trailed the deceased to the house around 10.10 p.m. on Tuesday and shot him twice after shooting into the air to scare residents of the community.
One of the don’s children, Oyin Adejobi, described how her father was murdered by the gunmen.
According to her, “as we finished our evening prayer at 10:05 p.m., dad drove his vehicle into the compound. Then I heard an argument between the gateman and some people. I peeped through the window and saw another
black car that was driven into our compound together with dad’s car. Our gateman was asking the occupants of the other car questions but they hit him and ordered him to lie down.
“The men in the black car came out before dad could alight from his car and one of them shot into the air. Two of them moved to where dad parked while others came inside. Suddenly, we heard a gunshot twice from outside.
“The assailants left around 10:20 p.m. and took dad’s car away. I heard my father begging that they should not take him away. When they left, we thought they took him away and we started praying for his safety not knowing that he had been killed. When the police came, they saw his body beside the flowers,” Oyin said.
The younger brother of the deceased, who is also the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Ogun State Police Command, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, described the death of his brother as very pathetic.
Confirming the incident, PPRO of Osun State Police Command, Mrs
Folashade Odoro, said the command had already commenced investigation into the matter, assuring that the police would fish out the perpetrators of the act.
While commenting on the development, the Public Relations Officer of OAU, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju, described the death of Dr Adejobi as unfortunate, saying that the management, staff and students of the university were sad about the development.
He said that “it is unfortunate that university lecturers have become the targets of kidnappers, armed robbers and assassins. This trend is dangerous for education system in the country.”
