The Ogun State Police Command on Monday said it had arrested one Awada Ishaya in connection with the murder of a lecturer at the Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Yinka Olomojobi and abduction of two others at an event centre in Iperu-Remo along Sagamu Road by suspected gunmen on Friday.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
According to the PPRO, Ishaya, who was employed barely two weeks before the event centre commenced operations as a security officer, was arrested on suspicion of his involvement in the incident.
She said, “A suspicious coincidence led the police to arrest one Awada Ishaya “m” of Plateau State, who was employed two weeks ago when the event centre was launched as a security man for further interrogation.”
On Monday about eight gunmen dressed in black invaded Ajadeh Event Centre, killing a lecturer from Babcock University, Olomojobi, while two others were equally abducted during the invasion.
Odutola said the incident happened on Friday, April 19, at about 9:20 pm.
The gunmen were said to have shot Olomojobi in the chest after allegedly resisting to go with them.
The slain Babcock University lecturer alongside one Dare and another person yet-to-be-identified who were abducted were said to be relaxing in the lounge of the event centre when the daredevil gang struck.
She added, “It was reported that gunshots were heard at the Ajadeh Event Centre on Sagamu Road in the Iperu area in Ogun State.
“Eyewitnesses were able to count eight men dressed in black and armed with guns emerge from an unknown place into the relaxing lounge and open fire indiscriminately. One person later identified as a lecturer at Babcock University named Olowojobi Yinka, was shot in the chest, for resisting to go away with the hoodlums, at their prompt, while a manager of a car stand, simply known as Dare “m” and the third person yet to be identified were whisked away.
“The lecturer was taken to Babcock University Teaching Hospital where he was pronounced dead.”
The PPRO disclosed that efforts were on-going to apprehend the culprits and rescue the kidnapped victims.
“Efforts are underway to apprehend the culprits and rescue the kidnapped victims. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops,” she said.
In a related development, a man simply identified as Abubakar was stabbed to death following an argument that ensued between him and another at a birthday party in the Halleluyah Quarters, Ibafo area of Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered that the incident happened on Friday night at the birthday party organised by one Nafiu Yusuf, for his daughter, who clocked one year.
Three people were reportedly arrested by the police in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, the management of Babcock University, in a statement by its Director, Marketing and Communication, Joshua Suleiman, expressed sadness at the demise of Olomojobi whom they described as “a vibrant personality, who gave his all imparting knowledge.”
The university noted that it had engaged with security operatives to unravel the circumstances behind his death while assuring its stakeholders that it would continue to partner with security agencies for improved security of its campus.
The statement reads in part, “The law enforcement agencies in conjunction with the Ogun State government are reportedly on the trail of the perpetrators and more men and women of the security agencies have been deployed to ensure the maximum safety of lives and property in the entire axis of the state.
“Prof. Olomojobi, who began his career at Babcock University on April 1, 2011, was a vibrant personality who gave his all to imparting knowledge and empowering young people at the university where he taught. The university commiserates with his family, friends, faculty, staff and students at this time of grief and prays for God’s comfort and courage to bear the loss.
“We assure all our stakeholders – students, parents, host community, faculty and staff that Babcock University will continue to collaborate with all government security and local vigilance agencies to ensure the maximum protection of lives and property within and around the university environment.”
