By Emmanuel Oluwadola
Temitayo Ayodeji, a graduate of Physics and Electronics at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) was stabbed to death in his off-campus residence by an alleged indigene now identified as Damilola Adejumo.
The victim was confirmed dead at Aduloju Hospital along Iwaro-Akoko road where he was rushed to after the sad occurrence.
The shocking incident which happened on the 6th of April, 2023, Thursday left the school and Akungba community wondering what could have led to the murder of the innocent student.
Meanwhile, the students of the University have condemned this heinous act, calling for justice to prevail.
The intervention of the school management, students' union leaders, and security operatives halted the protest staged by the students of AAUA from resulting in violence and proceeding to the following day.
The students further took to various social media platforms to trend pictures of the perpetrator who was declared wanted. They stormed the Twitter space with the hashtag "#JusticeForTemitayo" calling for quick action.
Temitayo Did Not Owe Indigene N,1000
In a phone interview with Patrick Oluwafemi, a friend of the victim, he narrated how the incident happened as informed by eyewitnesses around the victim's off-campus hostel.
His words: "He (Temitayo) wasn't the one they (the suspect and his allies) were looking for. There was a student living in that villa that had something to do with these indigenes. They sold something to the student. It was four thousand naira. The student (not Temitayo) paid three thousand out of it, and it remains one thousand naira. The dealer sent his brother (the suspect) to collect the balance, but the student wasn't able to pay it.
"It was not the issue of cultism. There was a struggle between them as the indigene first came to intimidate the student and in the process, the student hit the indigene as said. Then, the brother (the suspect) went back to call his brother, who sent him with more teams. Policemen sent everyone away but the suspect and his associates still reinforced and came back.
"Right from the start, Temitayo wasn't in the picture at all. He was about to go and buy pure water and he saw what was going on in his villa and wanted to know what was happening. The suspect and his teams were already aggressive and the suspect stabbed Temitayo with a scissor on the side. Temitayo was rushed to the hospital. My colleagues and I went to the hospital that afternoon to check on him. We saw that he was already getting better and we need not panic.
"His side was plastered, I saw the band-aid on the injury and they even bought food for him. We saw it as a minor injury when we went back home. It was in the evening that we were called that Temitayo gave up the ghosts," Oluwafemi narrated.
He added that Temitayo was a gentle young man, easygoing, always on his earphones, and was not a troublemaker.
Students' Union Reacts
Reacting to the occurrence through a release signed by the Union's President, Comr. Ogunsanmi Kolade, the AAUA Students' Union condemned the inhumane behavior displayed by the perpetrator.
The Union confirmed that the case has been reported to the Akungba Police and their stand remains that the security services should apprehend the perpetrator. However, they urged students to remain calm and follow the directives of the Students' Union.
It reads: "The leadership of AAUA Students' Union has been reliably informed about the murderous and barbaric killing of our innocent student earlier today and we have since swung to action to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and justice is served accordingly.
"Information at our disposal, given by some eyewitnesses, reports that Temitayo Ayodeji was stabbed to death in his hostel(off campus) by some indigenes who are already on the run.
"However, the case has been reported to the Akungba Police. Our position remains that the security services should launch a manhunt immediately to apprehend the perpetrator, and we shall NOT rest until justice is served.
"We call on all students to remain calm and follow the directives of the Students' Union. Aluta Continua!"
Investigation Is Going On Says Akungba Police
A call was put through to the Akungba Patrol and Guard Officer, Mr. Tunde Olomojare to know if there are current steps taken by the Akungba Police Department to fish out the perpetrator(s).
He said: "Yes, there are steps on it, to get the culprits arrested and there is an investigation going on. You can come down to meet the DPO."
Justice
The Public Relations Officer, of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, South-West, Comrade Awoyinfa Opeoluwa, said the association has called on the authorities to ensure that those responsible for Ayodeji’s death are brought to book.
NANS in a statement said the student area of the institution should be declared “a state of emergency”, urging all security agencies to swift into action immediately.”
In the same vein, the spokesperson for the Alale of Akungba, Oba Sunday Adeyeye, Ajimo III, Chief Alaba Yusuf, said the community had also swung into action to apprehend those behind the student’s death.
He disclosed that the King condemned the action of the indigene who allegedly stabbed the student.
The Akinrogun of Akungba land let out that the community and the university were doing everything possible to ensure the killer was arrested.
Police are investigating
The Registrar of AAUA, Gbenga Arajulu told ECHO MEDIA that Police are currently investigating the issue.
"We must know our remit. Let the police do their job. They said they're investigating if the guy is a cultist or not."
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