The ambience of ancient Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) was lulled last week, after a part-five student of Department of Civil Engineering, Okoli Ahize, was allegedly lynched over “phone theft.”
But the incident seemed so concealed, as there was no footage or pictorial evidence available in the public domain. Everyone has a different account of what happened.
The Student Union in a press release signed by its President, Olayiwola Folahan (Reform) confirmed the incident. He said the deceased was confirmed dead on arrival at the emergency medicine department of OAU.
According to him, the activities of the Hall Executive Council are suspended pending further investigation.
A security committee of the Awo Hall of Residence stated in a release that Ahize “was caught by a group of people in Awolowo Hall of residence for stealing a phone and also using the bank app on the phone to make transactions and it was also observed that he went as far as messaging the relatives of the legitimate owner of the phone to request for funds.”
The committee corroborated other sources’ claims, noting that mobs gathered and beat the student to a pulp. He was also making efforts to retaliate, the committee claimed.
Sources told WikkiTimes Ahize was transferred to the security committee after he was already panel beaten.
“Mr Arinze walked into the Students’ Union Building unaided and was apparently fine,” the committee claimed.
‘BRUTALLY TORTURED OVERNIGHT’
On the same day, a release by the Technology And Engineering Students’ Association revealed that the deceased was paraded by the Awo Hall Executive and at about 11 pm handed over to the Union’s security committee who “brutally tortured him overnight”.
The faculty leadership said it met with the University’s Acting Chief Security Officer, Babatubde Oyadokun and he told them the security unit asked the Awo Hall Executives to hand over Ahize to them but they refused.
The faculty leadership, further quoted eyewitnesses, saying the student died before being taken to the hospital.
‘WHEELBARROWED TO STUDENTS’ UNION BUILDING’ — GASPING
A day after the incident, Federation of Igbo Students in a press release recounted that the deceased was conveyed in a wheelbarrow to the Students’ Union Building while gasping for breath.
They added that the incident could have been avoided had the principal actors were sensitive enough to rescue him when “he was asking for water and his inhaler.”
WikkiTimes could not ascertain whether the deceased was asthmatic.
“A few of our members who rushed him to the emergency unit at the yniversity teaching hospital observed that he was beaten beyond recognition,” the union said. “Ahize was killed on mere accusation, in fact, the said Phone he was accused to have stolen has not been recovered till now.”
JUSTICE FOR AHIZE
Following his Arinze’s death, vehicular movements were restricted and academic activities halted.
On Tuesday, students organised a protest to express their grievances and demand justice for the deceased.
Addressing the grieving students, the Dean, Students’ Affairs, Professor Isiaka Aransi, assured that the management will tackle the issue with utmost concern.
Meanwhile, two suspects had been arrested in connection to the crime.