It was shock and disbelief in Ondo State as news broke that the abducted lecturer of the State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, OSUSTECH, Prof. Gideon Okedayo, has been found dead.
Okedayo, of the institution’s Department of Mathematical Science, and his driver were kidnapped by unknown gunmen along Auchi – Igara Road in neighbouring Edo State last Thursday. The driver was later released after which he reported to the police.
His decomposing body was discovered on Monday in a bush where his abductors had kept it, according to the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) OSUSTECH Chapter, Dr Dipo Akomolafe, who confirmed the incident to reporters on Tuesday in Okitipupa.
Akomolafe said that ASUU and the University were sad and in disarray over the development.
He said “His decomposing body was found in the bush. This is so sad to ASUU and his family members because the abductors never called anybody either ASUU or his family for ransom.”
Earlier, the Edo State Police Command had announced that it had recovered Okedayo’s official vehicle, a Toyota Corolla marked 06X47OD, a few hours after the abduction.
It was gathered that Okedayo’s decomposing body was found on Monday in the bush, where he was captured by his abductors.
Also, the Chairman, Joint Action Committee of Staff Unions of OSUSTECH, Mr. Temidayo Temola, said on Tuesday that the incident saddened all members of staff of the university.
The labour leader, who described the late don as a peace-loving and generous person said the sad news had thrown the OSUSTECH campus into mourning.
He said, “In fact, the death of Prof. Okedayo is a big loss to this institution, we will really miss him.”
Also, while lamenting the incident, the institution’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francis Igbasan, said that the Management felt very sad and devastated about the story.
He said that Okedayo’s brutal death has thrown the OSUSTECH community into deep grief,
He said: “I feel very bad. I felt bad that I have lost a colleague. A very vibrant professor of about 50 -years-old, who has contributed a lot to the University “
Igbasan said: “And that is what we have been saying that government is not doing enough to protect lives and properties.
“The University is not happy, the community is not happy and personally I am not happy “
The Deputy Vice Chancellor said it took years to produce a professor, most especially a professor of Mathematics of his type and so losing him in such a circumstances is pathetic.
He called on government at all levels to rise up to the trend of modern crime and criminality which is ravaging the country.
Okedayo until his death, was a senior lecturer at the Department of Mathematical Sciences and Acting Dean, School of Post Graduate Studies at OSUSTECH.
Spokesman of Ondo State Police Command, SP Femi Joseph, had earlier confirmed receiving an official report on the kidnap of the don from the university management, but declined further comments because the incident happened in Edo State.
The police in Edo are yet to react to the development as CSP Chidi Nwabuzor, the Public Relations Officer of the command, was yet to return several calls put to him.
