Two individuals have been apprehended by the Osun State Police Command in connection with the murder of Okoli Ahize Chizoputam, a 500-level student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. Chizoputam was lynched by fellow students who accused him of stealing a mobile phone in a hall of residence on the campus.
According to Mrs Yemisi Opalola, the spokesperson for the police command, discreet investigations into the case are still underway. She further stated that more arrests will be made. She warned members of the public, particularly students, to refrain from engaging in jungle justice. They should follow the law by reporting criminal activities to the police or other relevant authorities.
The incident occurred on April 10th. The lifeless body of the engineering student was taken to the accident and emergency unit of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) by some of his colleagues.
The police visited the hospital and learned that Chizoputam had been beaten into a coma by some fellow students. They reportedly accused him of stealing a phone at Awo Hall of the institution. The victim died shortly after. The police have expressed their condolences to the deceased’s parents and the institution’s staff. They are also continuing their investigation, having arrested two suspects thus far.
The university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Biodun Olanrewaju, confirmed that the institution had handed over two suspects to the police. Meanwhile, the institution’s students held a peaceful protest around the school to condemn Chizoputam’s murder.
The protesting students sang sorrowful songs, barricaded major roads that led to the campus, and called the act inhumane and barbaric, praying that such an occurrence would never happen again on the campus. The Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Isiaka Aransi, urged the students to be patient with the school management. He asked them to refrain from taking any action that could cause a crisis in the school.
cc: Channelstv
