The Academic Staff Union Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan Chapter, Oyo State, has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alkali Baba, to bring to book the killers of Professor Opeyemi Ajewole.
The late Ajewole was a professor of Social and Environmental Forestry Department at the University of Ibadan.
He was killed by unknown gunmen in front of his house at Orogun axis of Ibadan, Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Monday, June 5, 2023 while returning home.
A statement by the chairman of ASUU, U.I Chapter, Ayo Akinwole, called on IGP Baba to give the Oyo State Police Command necessary logistics support to fast-track the arrest of the killers of the late Ajewole.
Akinwole also made a passionate appeal to Tinubu to wade into the murder of the institution’s don, and making sure the security apparatus uncovered the murderers.
“The hearts of every ASUU-U.I are bleeding so profusely as if pierced by swords. Our bones shook so tremendously that it was as if our marrows were naked in the tundra region.
“We condemn in totality the gruesome murder of our comrade, Ajewole, and charge the security operatives to track down and apprehend the perpetrators of this dastardly act, with a view to unraveling the motives behind the incident and bringing the perpetrators to book.
“The only tribute which the death of Ajewole deserves, is that is killers of are brought to justice, and that Nigerians’ lives should matter to the Tinubu Presidency. Ajewole’s gruesome murder again reminds us of how valueless human lives have become in our clime.
“The situation of the Nigerian academic is even doubly precarious; they are prophets without any honour at home. Despite their contributions to national growth and development and recognition in the international circle, Nigerian academia is scorned and shabbily treated by the Nigerian state and the public for being unrepentant patriots.
“Death lurks in all imaginable and unimaginable corners of this country and comes cheaply. The Nigerian populace is constantly assailed by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, assassination, hunger, unemployment, and many more insidious exterminators of our individual and collective dreams,” Akinwole said