The Police in Osun State have arrested two suspects in connection with the alleged murder of Okolie Arinze, a student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
The Police Command also disclosed that it had started a discreet investigation into the matter.
This was made known in a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, and made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Osogbo.
The statement revealed that, “On 11/4/2023 at about 3:30 pm, information was received that a lifeless body of one Okoli Arinze Chizoputam ‘m’ a student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) was taken to the accident and emergency unit of OAUTHC by some students of the institution.
“The Police on receiving the information, visited the hospital and it was revealed that the deceased was alleged to have stolen a phone at Awo Hall of the institution on 10/4/2023 and beaten to coma by some of their fellow students which eventually led to his death.”
Opalola, who explained that the Police Command was saddened by the killing, also described the action of the perpetrators of the crime as unwarranted.
“The Police Command, saddened by this unwarranted action, commiserated with the parents of the deceased and the staff of the Institution and prayed to God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.”
While warning members of the public and students to desist from any act of jungle justice or taking laws into their hands, she advised that rule of law should be followed and any criminal activity or behaviour should be reported to the Police or other relevant authorities.
It had earlier been reported that Okolie Arinze, a part 5 Civil Engineering student of the institution died as a result of severe beating after he was caught for allegedly stealing a phone.
The University management had condemned the incident and promised to get to the cause of the incident.
In a press statement signed by the University’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, he said the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire has set up a committee to unravel the circumstances that led to the incident.
The death of Arinze also sparked protests early Wednesday morning as students barricaded the Student Union Building, SUB.
The students who barricaded the SUB did not depart from the vicinity until they were addressed by the representatives of the university management, including the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof. Isiaka Aransi and the Chief Security Officer of the institution who gave an address to the students, assuring that the perpetrators will be justly treated.
Text except headline courtesy of DAILYPOST
