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A former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Olufemi Bamiro, was shot in Ibadan on Tuesday evening by gunmen in a failed kidnap attempt.
Newspeakonline learnt that the gunmen waylaid him on his way home at Oluyole area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital at about 7:00 pm.
Reports said the armed men shot Bamiro in the leg and drove him away. The vehicle however stopped due to its installed security device.
Policemen from the Oluyole Division responding to distress calls were said to have stormed the scene and rescued the former VC.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Adekunle Ajisebutu, who confirmed the incident, explained that the suspected kidnappers were trying to kidnap Bamiro when policemen came to the scene to foil the attempt. He said the policemen rescued him though the gunmen escaped.
Bamiro was thereafter taken to the University College Hospital (UCH) where sources say he is responding well to treatment.
The police spokesman disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Sam Adegbuyi, has since instructed the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to commence investigation while the anti-kidnapping squad in the command have been put on the trail of the suspected kidnappers.
Bamiro, a professor of Mechanical Engineering, was UI VC between 2005 and 2010. He was succeeded by Prof. Isaac Adewole, who is now Minister of Health.