The video of the torture of a 200-level student of Ajayi Crowther University in Oyo State is trending.
The student was shaven and beaten to death by a group of other students on the allegation of stealing a mobile phone from the Shepherd Inn hostel on the school premises.
The spokesperson of the school, Femi Atoyebi has disclosed that the hostel porter (name withheld) is assisting the police with investigations.
Atoyebi told the Punch on Sunday that some of the students had been arrested and handed over to the police while noting that the total number of the assailants remained unknown.
He said, “For now, I think we have some and those have been handed over to the police.”
The spokeperson could not confirm if the deceased was Alex Timileyi, a prince in the Warri Kingdom of Delta State.
“By now, the school must have known the student. It’s not a secret. His status as a Prince, I don’t know. But to the best of my knowledge, he was a student of Ajayi Crowther University,” he said.
As for the hostel porter, Atoyebi said, “For the dereliction of his duty, he is on suspension and also handed over to the police to assist with investigations.”
The deceased was reportedly beaten from 6 p.m. on Friday to about 10 a.m. on Saturday.
“They said they caught him with a stolen phone. They started beating him from 6 p.m. yesterday (Friday) until he died at about 10 a.m. today (Saturday).
The incident happened at Shepherd Inn. It’s like a lodge or a hostel now. They also shaved the hair of the guy before beating him,” the source said.
An activist has petitioned the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde to take prompt action on the matter.
The activist, known as the Lord of Warry, in an open letter addressed to the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and posted on his X page, identified the deceased as Prince Alex Timileyi of the Warri Kingdom.
He further wrote that he was “the son of Princess Antonia Emiko, daughter of Olu Erejuwa II (1951-1986), and an aunt of the current Olu of Warri. He was also a first cousin of His Majesty, Ogíamè Atuwatsé III CFR, the Olú of Warri Kingdom”.
He said, “This incident has left us deeply saddened and concerned about the safety and security of students in schools not just in Oyo State but in Nigeria as a whole. As Itsekiri people, we appeal to you, the Governor of Oyo State, Makinde, to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice.
“While we are aware that the deceased was alleged to have stolen, we vehemently oppose the act of taking the law into one’s hands without proper investigation.
“The claim that he was caught with a stolen phone led to a brutal 6hours torture, the beating that began on Friday at 6pm and tragically ended with his death on Saturday at 10am. This inhumane treatment is unacceptable.
“No one should be punished without a fair trial and due process. It is equally unacceptable for the school management and the perpetrators of this crime to go unpunished.”
Watch the video below;
