Oyo Private University Student Beaten to Death Over Alleged Phone Theft

A yet-to-be-identified student of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Oyo State, was allegedly bludgeoned to death at a hostel known as Shepherd Inn, within the school premises, by a group other students for allegedly stealing a cell phone. phone.

PUNCH Online has learned that the deceased was also allegedly forcibly shaved by his attackers after he was caught with the stolen mobile phone.

Our correspondent learned from a source within the school, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject, that the deceased was beaten between 6 p.m. Friday and around 10 a.m. Saturday.

“They said they caught him with a stolen phone. They started beating him yesterday (Friday) from 6 p.m. until he died around 10 a.m. today (Saturday).

“The incident took place at the 'Shepherd Inn'. It's like a lodge or inn now. They also shaved the guy’s hair before beating him,” he said.

Two different videos, shared with our correspondent on Saturday evening, showed the deceased rolling on the hostel floor while other students beat him with sticks.

In one of the recordings, one of the students was heard encouraging the other student to hit the deceased “harder, harder.”

Meanwhile, the university management confirmed the incident in a statement attributed to the spokesperson, Femi Atoyebi, published by the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday.

The statement said the students suspected of participating in the alleged crime were expelled and handed over to police for prosecution.

Atoyebi said: “Contrary to the trend, the university affirms that there is no bigotry within the institution, just as the university has zero tolerance for any sort of anti-vice and misconduct. societal.

“It is important to emphasize that the expelled students do not belong to any sect. »