Personal note of appreciation from Prof Adigun Agbaje, chair of the Oba Sikiru Adetona Institute for Governance at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, and former DVC (Academics) of the University of Ibadan

My father, Prof Adigun Agbaje, recently released by kidnappers, has asked me to issue the statement below on his behalf.



“It’s a new day today and I’m happy to be alive. I was released by my kidnappers yesterday evening after spending two nights in the thick forests of Ogun and Oyo states.


My mind goes to the five others who are still left with the kidnappers: two young ladies, two young men and a middle aged person. I was shot at in the head during the abduction process.


I thank God that the bullet that went through my car’s windscreen left only a skin deep wound on my head even though it left a gaping hole in the cap I was wearing. I did not even know about this till Saturday morning when I saw caked blood on my cap.
I am undergoing comprehensive health checks and so it may take some time to thank all my family, including my in-laws, friends and in-laws to my children, my own friends, colleagues and all Nigerians.


For now I want to thank the following former and current Vice Chancellors of the University of Ibadan: Prof Olufemi Bamiro, Prof Isaac Adewole, Prof Idowu Olayinka and Prof Kayode Adebowale, my colleagues at the University of Ibadan and other Universities at home and abroad, current and former students, including Mr Fisayo Soyombo, for their wonderful support and generosity to my family, top government, military, and other security officials.

I am quite grateful for all your efforts.


You all kept hope alive and ensured that the sensitive negotiations came to a successful end when I regained freedom yesterday evening.


As stated earlier, my heart goes to those young female undergraduates, the young men and the middle aged person I left behind with the kidnappers. I may not be reachable now but as soon as I get medical clearance from my doctors, I will be thanking all of you personally.”

Adewale Agbaje
31st October 2022


Wife of kidnapped UI professor speaks
The distraught wife said that the news of the abduction of her husband on Friday evening was shocking and traumatic.



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


In an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, the distraught wife said that the news of the abduction of her husband on Friday evening was shocking and traumatic.



Mr 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.


Mrs Agbaje said her husband was caught in the incident around 7.00 p.m. when returning to Ibadan from Ago Iwoye, 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.



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



She called on the government to ensure the 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,” Mrs Agbaje said.


She confirmed that three of the victims of the kidnappers escaped, adding that they were young people who fled for their lives.

NAN recalled that the Nigerian police said that during the incident, one of its personnel paid the supreme price while the other was injured but responding to treatment.

A police spokesperson, Adewale Osifeso, in a statement, said that the Divisional Police Officer in the area had led a team comprising anti-crime patrol operatives, tactical teams, mobile police officers and local hunters to secure the immediate rescue of the victims.

The incident was reported to have occurred around KM 24, on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, near Dominion University on Friday at 6.35 p.m.

(NAN)