Prof Adegbehingbe alongside his wife, it was learnt, was travelling from Lagos to Ife when armed men, stopped their vehicle and abducted him.
An eyewitness, Azeez Olagunju, told our correspondent that several vehicles ran into the ambush by the gunmen.
He said, “several vehicles were stopped by some men armed with guns. Many people fled into the bush because we thought it was an armed robbery attack.
“Later, we were told a man had been abducted but I don’t know who the person is. Those that fled into the bush later returned after the men had left the road.”
A spokesperson for Ooni of Ife, Moses Olafare confirmed the abduction of Adegbehingbe to our correspondent.
Olafare said, “I received a call from one of the passengers who witnessed the abduction of Prof Yinka Adegbehingbe. Immediately I received that information, I called OAU PRO. I also called Ife Area Commander of Nigeria Police Force and later the Commissioner of Police.
“CP told me she was aware of the incident and requested for more details from our end and we gave that. I later spoke to the wife of Prof. Adegbehingbe. She was in a police station around Apomu when I spoke to her.”
OAU Public Relations Officer, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju, also confirmed the abduction in a telephone conversation.