OAU final year student beaten to death over alleged theft

A mob has allegedly beaten to death Okoli Ahize, a final year student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State over alleged phone theft.

Mr Ahize was a 500L student of the Department of Civil Engineering.

He was clubbed to death on Monday at the university’s Awolowo Hall of Residence.

Confirming the incident, OAU spokesman Abiodun Olarewaju said in a statement on Tuesday night 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.

President of the Students’ Union Olayiwola Festus described the action as inhumane and pledged justice.

“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,” the union leader said in a statement.

He noted that arrests and investigations of individuals suspected to be connected with the assault of the deceased were being made for legal actions.

“Our union does not support mob action and justice must be served in this incident,” he added.