By Promise Eze
A final-year undergraduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has been murdered on campus over alleged theft of a phone.
The deceased, Okoli Ahize, was beaten to death by an angry mob on Monday.
The incident is reported to have happened in the Awo Hall of the institution.
The deceased was 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 yesterday.
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 were ongoing.
Olayiwole announced immediate suspension of activities on the Executive Council of Awo Hall till police conclude investigation into the matter.
The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday night.
He noted that the university management condemned the action and had set up a panel to investigate the matter.
“The administration of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has condemned, in strong terms, the incident that led to the death of a Part 5 student of the institution.
“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 Bamire, has set up a committee to unravel the circumstances that led to this incident,” Olarewaju stated.
