A part 5 student of the Department of Civil Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University has been allegedly beaten to death for phone theft.
A press release by the Students’ Union President of Obafemi Awolowo University, Olayiwola Folahan Festus (Reform) confirmed the incident.
Olayiwola in the release said “I regret to announce the death of a Part 5 student assaulted in a mob action at Awo Hall yesterday. The student was declared dead on arrival at the Emergency Medicine Department of OAU Teaching Hospital this afternoon.
Preliminary investigations show that the deceased was accused to have stolen a phone. While we await an official report from the law enforcement agencies, I must state that this incident is a very sad one to Great Ife Students’ Union because our Union is not a Union of barbarians but that of intellectuals.”
Olayiwola further stated that arrests and investigations of individuals suspected to be connected with the assault of the deceased are being made for consequent legal actions.
ACJ-OAU contacted the Public Relations Officer of the Students’ Union, Taofeek Ogunperi and he confirmed the incident. He stated that the school security officers, police officers and the Students’ Union officers are working to ensure that the culprits of the mob action are brought to book.
The School Acting CSO, Mr Oyatokun, also confirmed the incident. He noted that investigations have commenced.
Meanwhile, when contacted, The Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju, noted that he could not brief the press on the issue at the time of speaking with him.
Efforts to reach the Awo Hall Chairman, Badiora Timilehin (Godsend) proved abortive at the time of filing this report.