Imoleayo Ezekiel Adeniran, the Registrar of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) in Ondo State, was found murdered at his private residence in Akure in the early hours of Thursday, a police source confirmed to The Nation.
The tragic incident occurred in the “Olopa to Di Woli” area along Ondo Road, plunging the local community and the university into shock and confusion.
In a statement confirming his death, the university authorities described Adeniran’s sudden passing as deeply shocking and a great loss to the institution.
“The devastating news (of Adeniran) has thrown the university into mourning, as it was shocking!
“He was still at his duty post on Monday, 14th July, 2025. At the time of writing this statement, the cause of his death is yet to be ascertained,”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his immediate family and the entire University community in this trying moment. May God repose his sou,” Isaac Oluyi, a spokesman for the institution, said.
But a police source said that Adeniran was allegedly attacked and forcefully poisoned by unknown assailants at his residence in Akure.
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He revealed that the university Registrar had stepped out to investigate a strange noise on his roof when he was accosted by the assailants who emerged from a nearby bush.
“The assailants allegedly overpowered him and administered an oral liquid substance suspected to be poison before fleeing the scene,” the source said.
According to him, Adeniran was later found lying unconscious in the compound and was rushed to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a medical officer.
He added that the corpse of Adeniran had been deposited at Divine Haven Mortuary, Akure, while detectives have visited the crime scene for further investigation.
“But the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Akure for investigation,” the source further said.
Confirming the death of Adeniran in a phone chat, the spokesman for the Ondo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade told The Nation that it was a case of assassination.
Ayanlade said the police are now after the perpetrators of the ‘murder’, saying the case would not be swept under the carpet.
“The man died in the early hours of yesterday (Thursday), and I can confirm to you that this was reported at Fanibi Divisional Police Station.
“We are doing everything possible to unravel circumstances surrounding this case. I mean, we are after those responsible for this case.
“I can confirm to you that the man was killed. From the information I had at my disposal, two men came out of the bush, and they forced a substance into his mouth,” he said.
The deceased assumed office as the third substantive Registrar of UNIMED on the 6th January, 2025 until his gruesome killing on Thursday.