By Justin Aduloju
Renowned legal practitioner, scholar, and human rights advocate, Dr. Akin Olawale Oluwadayisi, narrowly escaped a suspected kidnap attempt on the night of Tuesday, 29th May 2024, shortly after returning from an international academic engagement in Ghana.
Dr. Oluwadayisi had just returned from attending the 6th International Economic Summit/Conference held at the University of Ghana, where he participated in discussions on critical regional and global issues.
According to reliable sources, upon arrival at his residence in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, armed bandits reportedly attacked his family home.
According to accounts, the attackers targeted Dr. Oluwadayisi and his family members, including his children. Evidence of bullet shots was recorded at the scene during the assault.
The situation was only brought under control through the timely intervention of Community Vigilante Security personnel, who repelled the assailants and prevented what could have been a successful kidnapping of the lawyer and his family.
The incident was immediately reported to the Bwari Divisional Police Station in the Bwari Area Council for necessary investigation and action.
This attack occurred just weeks after Dr. Oluwadayisi publicly advocated for the imposition of the death sentence as a deterrent punishment for individuals convicted of kidnapping in Nigeria — a position he maintained amid the rising wave of abductions and insecurity across the country.
Dr. Akin Olawale Oluwadayisi is a respected Notary Public, legal consultant, arbitrator, and academic with extensive publications on human rights, constitutional law, economic and social rights, and related subjects.
He has previously served as a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Adekunle Ajasin University, and continues to contribute to legal scholarship and public discourse on justice and national security issues.
The family has thus expressed gratitude to the community vigilance group for their bravery and swift response, while calling on security agencies to intensify efforts in investigating the matter and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
This incident once again highlights the persistent challenge of insecurity in parts of the Federal Capital Territory and the urgent need for stronger measures to protect citizens, especially those who courageously speak out against criminality.