In a bid to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Okoli Ahize, the 500Level Civil Engineering student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, the National Association of Nigerian Students( NANS) visited the Management of the institution.
Ahize, was allegedly beaten to death by a mob in the institution over alleged phone theft.
The unfortunate incident was said to have occurred at the Awolowo Hall of Residence of the institution.
The NANS Deputy Senate President, Comrade Elvis Ekundina, NANS National P.R.O. Giwa Temitope, Deputy National President of NAUS (External Affairs) Babalola Daniel among others
Recall that on Monday NANS visited the trio of the Dean, Division of Students’ Affairs, Prof. I. O. Aransi, Chief Security Officer, Obafemi Awolowo University, Babatunde Oyatokun and the Commissioner of Police, Osun State, CP Kehinde Longe.
Upon interaction with the Dean, Division of Students’ Affairs and the C.S.O. of the institution, it was disclosed that the death was a result of mismanagement of a case that could have been best handled in lawful approach.
Also the institution refuted the information making round, that the Quick Response Squad of the University was called upon to convey the deceased to the health centre before he gave up the ghost.
Comrade Elvis in agreement with other leaders, maintained that although our fundamental obligation is to defend the interests of the students’ always and agitate for qualitative education and conducive environment for learning but we as the students’ body totally frown against criminality in every form.
This however does not warrant anyone to take laws into his/her hands.
The deceased should have been handed over to the school security he added
“ We maintain that it was very wrong to have called the security unit of the university to convey the deceased to the health centre before he gave up the ghost, rather, the leadership of the Students’ Union should have, handed him over to the security committee of Awolowo Hall where the theft was alleged to have taken place, and from there should have been immediately taken to the Health Centre for necessary treatment considering the injury he suffered as a result of the beaten.
“While interacting with the CP, CP Kehinde Longe, who invited the OC Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department to also brief us on their efforts to date, we made our stand known that we shall not in any way stand in the way of justice and that we shall cooperate and partner with the Police to ensure that everyone involved in the murder is brought to justice,” he continued.
“Yes, the deed has been done, but the only justice we can secure for the dead is that it is done right so that others will deter from doing the same.
“We have given the Police the responsibility of making sure that individuals who received the deceased at the Students’ Union Building are invited and questioned because this will aid the inquiry.
“Considering the provisions of the criminal code which mandate one to prevent, keeping the students in custody for close to 8 hours before he passed away is in itself culpable considering the obvious fact that he needed medical attention as a result of the beating he had received while at Awolowo Hall.
He however emphasized on the disastrous end of jungle justice, adding that it should never be heard on campuses.