The Deputy Registrar at the Federal University of Technology, FUTA, Akure, Ondo State, Dr Amos Arijesuyo has died following a gun shot to the chest by suspected kidnappers on Saturday evening.
He reportedly sat in the front seat with the driver while three other occupants sat at the back seat.
Family source said the deceased bled profusely after the bullet hit his chest and died before he could get to the hospital.
They were attacked at Iwaraja area of Ilesa-Akure highway in Osun State while travelling back to Akure from lbadan.
Report had it that the first shot released by the suspected kidnappers who aimed at the tyres of the vehicle in a bid to demobilise the vehicle, hit the leg of the deceased.
Attempt by the driver to manoeuvre the vehicle in a bid to escape attracted several gunshots from the kidnappers.
The bullets reportedly hit the deputy registrar in the vital part of his body and the driver in the arm.
The kidnappers reportedly fled and the deputy registrar died before he could get to the hospital for medical attention. The driver is responding to treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
The deceased who worked at the Guidance and Counselling section of the Students Affairs Department of the University was also a Senior Pastor at CAC, Glory of God, FUTA Akure.
A pastor of the church Pastor Olu Aladesanmi was said to have confirmaed the incident adding that it occurred at about 5:30pm on Saturday.
A statement by the Deputy Director, Corporate Communications of the university, Adegbenro condemned the attack on the Registrar and prayed for the repose of his soul.
The statement reads:
“Dr Arijesuyo was returning to Akure from a trip to Ibadan when his vehicle ran into an ambush laid by unknown gunmen who were operating on the road around 5.30 PM.
“The bandits shot sporadically at the vehicle targeting the five occupants. Unfortunately, some of the bullets hit Dr Arijesuyo and the driver. The driver managed to drive the vehicle away from the scene of the attack and concerted efforts were made to seek immediate medical help.
“However Dr Arijesuyo succumbed to the fatal injuries from the gunshots he suffered during the hellish encounter while the driver is recuperating at a hospital.
“The University condemns in the strongest terms this senseless attack that has led to the untimely death of an erudite University administrator and counselor per excellence. Dr Arijesuyo’s death is a big loss to FUTA, the academic community in Nigeria and beyond.
“It is a death that should not have happened in the first place. It is the hope of the management, staff, and students of FUTA that security agencies will go after the evil men who carried out the dastardly act and make them face the full weight of the law and just recompense for their heinous crime.
“Our prayers and thoughts are with the wife, children, and family members of our departed colleague at this difficult period of unquantifiable grief. May the Good Lord grant them the fortitude to bear this irreparable and painful loss and grant the deceased eternal repose.”
