By Charles Akinbode
A final year student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun State, Okolie Ahize, has been lynched for allegedly stealing a mobile phone.
The deceased, a 500-level Civil Engineering student, reportedly died on Tuesday at the Emergency Department of the OAU Teaching Hospital, Ife, where he was rushed after a complication.
The deceased was accused of theft on Monday and tortured by unidentified fellow students at the university’s Awo Hall of residence.
Meanwhile, the university management has condemned the mob action.
The OAU’s spokesman, Abiodun Olanrewaju, in a statement, said: “The administration of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has condemned, in strong terms, the incidence that led to the death of a part five 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 Simeon Bamire, has set up a committee to unravel the circumstances that led to this incident.
“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 admonished to desist from taking laws into their hands and to report any criminal activities to the university authorities for immediate actions.”
Also, the president of the university’s Students’ Union Government (SUG), Olayiwola Festus, said preliminary investigations showed that the deceased was accused to have stolen a phone at Awo Hall where he was beaten on Monday and declared dead on arrival at the Emergency Medicine Department of OAU Teaching Hospital on Tuesday.
His words: “While we await official reports 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 the 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.”
