THE whereabouts of Akindoyo Gideon, a 300-level Computer Engineering student of Al-Hikmah University, Igbaja in Kwara State has remained a mystery as he was said to have simply disappeared while working on his father’s cassava farm situated at Lumeko Village, Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State.
According to sources, he went to the farm on 11 June 2024 and has not been seen thereafter. The motorcycle he rode to the farm was found by a search team.
A statement by the Senate secretariat of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and signed by Henry Okunomo, urged security agencies to help find Gideon.
The statement suggests Gideon might have been abducted due to the lingering communal crisis between Irele and Igbobini communities.
It urged leaders of the two communities to find the missing student dead or alive.
According to the statement: “Information gathered from the National President of Irele Local Government Students and a community leader Dr. Adekugbe Erik, said Gideon traveled home to gather foodstuffs from his community, only to be abducted while working on his father’s farm.
“The community leader reported that the student’s disappearance coincided with an attack by the Igbobini community, resulting in destroyed homes and properties.
“We categorically demand that the leadership of both Irele and Igbobini communities produce the student, either dead or alive, within the next 72 hours. failure to do so will compel us to relocate the NANS secretariat to the affected communities, where we will remain until the student’s safe return is secured.”
Gideon’s mother, Mrs Janet Akindoyo, said her son was yet to return home from the farm.
“He has not returned, search party saw his motorcycle where he parked it but we haven’t seen him. I’m appealing to the security and the people to help find him,” she appealed.
Ondo Police spokesman, SP Funmilayo Odunlami, who confirmed the incident, said policemen have been deployed to the forest in search of the missing student.
Eighteen-Eleven Media