A part 5 student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife identified as Okoli Chizoputam who was assaulted in a mob action on Monday evening for an alleged phone theft has been confirmed dead.
President, Great Ife Students' Union, Olayiwola Folahan Festus confirmed the sad news in a statement on Tuesday.
The Students' Union leader in the statement described the incident as very sad and inhumane, assuring justice will be served on whoever is found culpable.
He added that arrests and investigations are being carried out on suspected perpetrators of the assault on the deceased whom, it was learned is a Civil Engineering student, for necessary legal actions.
Full statement below:
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
GREAT IFE STUDENTS' UNION
OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY
Ken Saro-Wiwa Building, OAU
April 11, 2023
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 official report from the law enforcement agencies, I must state that this incidence 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 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!
OAU MANAGEMENT CALLS FOR CALM
The University management in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju also confirmed the incident.
Olanrewaju in the release, 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.
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