BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
A final year undergraduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has been mobbed to death on campus over alleged theft of a phone.
The said student, whose name was yet to be known as at press time, was said to have been beaten to death by an angry mob on Monday.
The incident was said to have happened in the Awo Hall of the institution.
The deceased was said to have been rushed to the Emergency Medicine Department of OAU Teaching Hospital on Tuesday afternoon after he started experiencing excruciating pain owing to the assault he suffered but was confirmed dead at the hospital.
Confirming the incident, the President, Great Ife Students’ Union, Festus Olayiwole, described the final year student’s death as sad, saying arrests and prosecution of those connected with the mob action was ongoing.
Olayiwole announced the immediate suspension of activities of the Hall Executive Council of Awo Hall till the police conclude investigation on the development.
“I regret to announce the death of a Part 5 student assaulted in a mob action at Awo Hall yesterday (Monday). 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 of having 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.
“Arrests and investigations of individuals suspected to be connected with the assault of the deceased are being made for consequent legal actions. Our Union does not support mob actions and justice must be served in this incident. Pending investigations of this unfortunate development, the activities of the Hall Executive Council of Awo Hall are suspended immediately.
“What has just happened is most inhumane. Justice must be served accordingly irrespective of who is involved. Mob actions are banned and not allowed on OAU campus!.
“I reassure Great Ife students that the Union is working assiduously with the school authorities and the relevant law enforcement officers to make sure that justice is meted out appropriately!” Olayiwole said in the statement.
Also, the administration of OAU has condemned, in strong terms, the incident that led to the death of the part 5 student of the institution.
A release by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, on Tuesday, stated that preliminary investigation revealed that the student died of a mob action on the allegation that he stole a phone.
Saddened by this ugly development which he described as unfortunate, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, has set up a committee to unravel the circumstances that led to this incident.
Bamire warned students against taking laws into their own hands.
“The action of the mob, being a violation of the law of the country and of the University regulations, has been reported to the police who have commenced investigations.
“The University administration hereby commiserates with the parents of the deceased, staff and students, and prays that God will grant us the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
“Students are strongly advised to desist from taking laws into their hands and to report any criminal activities to the University authorities for immediate actions,” the statement read.
