Wife: I can’t afford N50m ransom for abducted professor

Former UI Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adigun Agbaje

Dr Adebola Agbaje, the wife of the kidnapped University of Ibadan (UI) don, Prof. Adigun Agbaje, has pleaded for the release of her husband, saying her expected gratuity was not enough to pay the N50 million ransom demanded.

Agbaje, in an interview with NAN on Sunday, said the news of the abduction of her husband on Friday evening was shocking and traumatic.

Prof. Agbaje, a lecturer in the department of Political Science, UI, was among a yet-to-be-ascertained number of persons kidnapped at Dominion University area on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Friday.

Agbaje said her husband was abducted at about 7.00 p.m., when returning to Ibadan from Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, where he had chaired an endowment by the Awujale of Ijebu.

“I wouldn’t think he was targeted, I think it was a mishap because he was not the only one captured that day.

“There was a bus and some cars, all the people there were apprehended and taken to their hideout.

“And they are demanding a huge sum of money; what they are demanding for, the gratuity I am expecting for 35 years’ work for the government is not even up to half of their demand,” she said.

Agbaje called for proactive measures from the security agencies and synergy to secure the release of victims alive.

She also called on the government to ensure protection of all citizens, stating that every life should be cherished.

“Nigeria needs a rethink because daily the country is going deep down in destruction. We are still negotiating and begging for the release of my husband,” she added.

Agbaje further confirmed that three victims escaped, adding that they were young people who fled over fear of being killed by the gunmen.

It would be recalled that the Oyo State Police Command said it lost one of its operatives during the incident, while the other was injured and responding to treatment.

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, who made this known via a statement, said the Divisional Police Officer in the area led a team comprising; anti-crime patrol operatives, tactical teams, mobile policemen, and local hunters to secure the immediate rescue of the victims.

The Star