A new Muslim covert Professor Yinka Olomojobi of the Faculty of Law at Babcock University, Ilishan, Ogun State, is dead. Media report said, he Law professor was shot dead by gunmen at Ajadeh Event Centre on Sagamu Road in the Iperu area around 9.20 pm on Friday.
Meanwhile, Imaam Christopher Otayemi of Abijo Mosque, Lekki, Lagos shares the story of late Professor Yinka Olomojobi who was killed on Friday night whilst resisting being kidnapped in Iperu, Ogun State. He said that Professor Yinka Olomojobi was referred to him three months ago primarily because of his interest in deepening his understanding of his new faith and the need for him to get a platform to interact and engage more visibly with the Muslim Community. “It is with a very heavy heart that I received the news of the passing of Professor Dr. Yinka Olomojobi (rahimahullah), whom I learnt, was killed on Friday night whilst resisting being kidnapped in Iperu, Ogun State.
Imaam Otayemi noted that: “Being a recent convert to Islam, Prof. was referred to me about 3 months ago primarily because of his interest in deepening his understanding of his new faith and the need for him to get a platform to interact and engage more visibly with the Muslim Community.” “We had planned to meet physically on Sunday, 25 February 2024, at his apartment in Lagos. Allah willed that meeting would not take place because Prof. sent me a message very early that morning that he was down with malaria and requested we reschedule. All through the month of Ramadān, we were in contact via WhatsApp, and our last conversation was on 29 March 2024.”
“Listening to him on phone speak about his journey to Islam (he was the only Muslim in his family) and my interaction with him, I could sense a highly cerebral scholar with deep conviction and faith in Allah. He was driven by a passion purely to please His Lord.” “Notwithstanding his status as an academic giant and legal luminary, he was humble to a fault and quite respectful in his engagement. Indeed, the eyes shed tears, and the heart grieves, and we are saddened over your departure, Prof. But we will not say except that which is pleasing to our Lord,” he continued.
Profile: Professor Yinka Olomojobi
Dr Yinka Olomojobi holds a PhD in international relations from Lancaster University, UK, and an LLM from the University of Liverpool, UK. He also obtained an LLB from Ogun State University, Nigeria, and is a Barrister-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
His interests include human rights law, international law and international relations, conflicts in deeply divided societies and religious radicalism. He is the author of Islam and Conflict in Northern Nigeria (2013); Human Rights on Gender, Sex and the Law in Nigeria (2013); Frontiers of Jihad: Radical Islam in Africa (2015); Human Rights and Civil Liberties in Nigeria: Discussions, Analyses, and Explanations (2016); and Medical and Health Law: The Right to Health (2018). He has also contributed to prominent journals. Similarly, Dr Yinka was the author of Islam in the West: Issues of Identity Crisis, Multiculturalism, and Conflict which was published in 2023.
His Death
The management of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, has confirmed the death of one of its lecturers, Yinka Olomojobi, a professor, who was reportedly shot by suspected gunmen at the weekend. According to the university’s Director of Communication and Marketing, Joshua Suleiman, the late Mr Olomojobi lectured at the university’s School of Law and Security Studies. Mr Suleiman noted that the university is yet to get the full details of how it happened but confirmed that the incident occurred at Iperu, another community in Ogun State.
Police arrest suspect – Report
However, two other persons were abducted by the gunmen numbering eight. Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the incident, said the assailants shot the scholar on the chest for resisting the abduction. “A report from the Iperu Division indicates that a kidnapping and murder incident occurred on the 19th of April 2024, at about 9:20 p.m.,” Odutola said. “It was reported that gunshots were heard at the Ajadeh Event Centre on Sagamu Road in the Iperu area in Ogun State.
“Eye witnesses were able to count eight men dressed in black and armed with guns emerged from an unknown place into the relaxing lounge and opened fire indiscriminately, where one person later identified as a lecturer at Babcock University named Olowojobi Yinka, was shot in the chest, for resisting to go away with the hoodlums, at their prompt, while a manager of a car stand, simply known as Dare “m” the third person is yet to be identified.” She added that one person had been arrested in connection with the incident.
“A two-week-old security man was arrested based on reasonable suspicion, as police commence discreet investigation.” The security agency said: “A suspicious coincidence led the police to arrest one Awada Ishaya “m” of Plateau state who was employed two weeks ago when the event center was launched as a security man for further interrogation. According to our source: “The lecturer was taken to Babcock University Teaching Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.”
The police officer disclosed that the victims would be rescued as efforts are ongoing to also arrest the culprits. “Efforts are underway to apprehend the culprits and rescue the kidnapped victims. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops,” Odutola added.
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