Tomiwa Ajewole, the first child and son of the murdered University of Ibadan lecturer, has discussed what transpired in front of their home in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday, June 5, before the news of his father, Prof. Opeyemi Ajewole’s death, in a statement.
Tomiwa disclosed that he was at home with his mother, Mrs Yemisi Ajewole, who is now a widow, at around 8 o’clock on the fateful day when a gunshot shattered the stillness in the home.
According to him, “Typical of my dad, he was the one who usually opened the gate whenever he returned home. My mother and I were inside when we heard a gunshot. We were both spooked by the sound.
“Again, we heard the sound of a car. With the thought that Daddy was back, I decided to go and check what was happening. As I was about to step out, I heard car doors being slammed shut.
“The next I saw was the reverse light of the car. By that time, I was already outside. I looked over the fence and saw the car being driven away fast. It was dark and I couldn’t see if it was my father’s own. I stepped outside our compound and chased the car barefoot, but I couldn’t meet up with the occupants. I was sure something was wrong.
“I went back inside to pick up the key to another car and we went to the Ojoo police station to lodge a report. Later, I guess the police got some information. They called one of us outside and showed him some pictures, but they didn’t tell us anything at that time.
“On his return, the person called by the police told us that picture shown to him was of someone else. We didn’t know that he was avoiding breaking the news to us. The police told us to go home and get the car documents.
“When we got back home, we saw blood on the ground in front of our gate. We also picked his UI identity card and two ATM cards. We got in touch with our Reverend and he was the one who came to break the news to us.”
A biological sister to the widow, Mrs Toyin Falana, also said she just got a call that her brother-in-law was missing, and that he was taken away in his car.
“After about an hour, I got another call that his dead body had been found,” she stated further.
The murdered Professor reportedly left his workplace, UI, for home when he was shot to death and dumped at the Ebedi area of the Ibadan-Oyo expressway.
His body was found by policemen who started patrolling many areas in the state capital while others were stationed at exit points as ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams after the case was reported.
Since Monday, family and friends of the late lecturer had been in a mourning mood, with their eyes turned red as a result of weeping. Also, all lecturers in the premier university have been unable to swallow the shocking news of one of them.
The Head of Department (HoD), Social and Environmental Forestry Development, Prof. Ismail Azeez, told Thenewsbearer that his colleague’s brutal killing would surely affect the department. He said: “The department is dead. The backbone of the department has just been cut off.
“There was no way you would interact with Ajewole when something is bothering you and the problem would not be dissipated. My worry is why someone who always brought joy to other people would meet this kind of death.
“Aside from his academic colleagues, talk to any cadre of staff, they would tell you the kind of person he was. But who are we to query God? We only take solace in the fact that he will take care of the rest of us.”
Prof. Abiodun Oluwadare, who is the Dean, of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, under which the late Professor’s department falls, also said: “The news was a shock to every one of us. It was never expected.
“He was an amiable man to colleagues, students and even the university as a whole. He was full of honour and integrity. He was a former Hall Warden and had served in several positions and was currently in the Senate of the university before his killing. We will surely miss him, but God knows the best.”
Lecturers from the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, led by the Dean, had on Wednesday, June 7, paid a condolence visit to the deceased’s family at their residence situated at Duku Close, Orogun, Ibadan.
Findings from a credible source said the lecturer was already at the gate of his house when the gunshot was heard. The assailants reportedly came in a gold colour Toyota Camry (Big Daddy). As the late Professor was about to open the gate of his house, a voice among the assailants was said to have barked: “Come back here.” What followed was the gunshot, after which the doors of cars were slammed and the assailants sped off.
The recovered body of the deceased showed a gaping hole on the left side of his forehead, while the white polo shirt he was wearing had become red as it had been soaked with his blood.
Speaking during the condolence visit, one of the lecturers, Prof Bamidele Omitoyin said: “We have come to commiserate with our sister, the children and the entire family. It’s a rude shock to all of us. There is no gainsaying, as we are all pained. However, it has happened because if it had not happened, we could have prevented it.”
Philosophically, he said: ”We came to this part (world) one day, and a day of departure will come. Nobody knows when, how and the exact time. We are all living corpses.”
Saying that no one could query God, he told the family members of the deceased that despite the vacuum created by the sudden loss of the head, “I assure you that God of heaven will take care of you and the children, and will also fill the vacuum.”
Describing the sudden death of their colleague as a big loss to the faculty, Omitoyin said: “Prof. Ajewole was one of the most popular figures, not only in our faculty but in the university. He never had a dull moment. He was not the type that would take anything to heart. This makes his death so painful to everyone.”
Born on March 6, 1962, Professor Ajewole, popularly called ‘Iroko’ hailed from Igbara Oke in Ondo State. He celebrated his 60th birthday in 2022 and was said to be the immediate past HOD of his department.
His Toyota Corolla, with registration number APP 53 HT, taken away by the assailants had yet to be recovered.
