A group of suspected cult members disrupted an exam to lynch a final-year student at the Tai Solarin University (TASUED) in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state.
The murdered victim has been identified as Fabiyi Hammed Ayinla, a 400-level student of History and Diplomatic Studies at TASUED.
Fabiyi is also said to be the general governor for TASUED’s College of Humanities and a student union government (SUG) executive.
A witness told TheCable that commotion broke out at the campus of the state-owned tertiary institution on Wednesday when men dressed in white shirts invaded the institution’s ETF exam hall during a session at 3:30 pm.
The armed men were said to have dragged out Fabiyi, beat the student with stones, stabbed him, and left him unconscious in the bush.
Students of TASUED’s history department were having their final paper and “sign-out” tradition at noon when the attack happened.
A video surfaced showing colleagues of the now-deceased final-year student watching in shock from a distance as the assault unfolded.
In the video, men numbering up to 15 are seen in a cluster, with one dragging the victim by the leg and kicking him as he writhed in pain.
Student witnesses say campus security operatives only arrived at the crime scene after the cult members had already fled.
It is gathered that Fabiyi was subsequently rushed to the hospital where he would later be confirmed dead.
Omolola Odutola, the Ogun state police spokesperson, told TheCable that Fabiyi died from his injuries at around 6:00 pm the same day.
“The Igbaba Division rivalry cult killing was reported to have taken place on 03/07/2024 at about 15:30hrs,” the police officer said.
“Fabiyi Hammed Ayinla, who is a member of the Eiye confraternity, was attacked by a group of about six young men, identities unknown, believed to be members of the Aye confraternity, while he was taking his final exam inside the lecture hall.
“The assailants forcibly removed Fabiyi Hammed from the exam venue to a secluded building away from the exam area, where he was brutally assaulted with dangerous weapons, leaving him severely injured.
“He was found barely conscious by the CSO (campus security outfit) and promptly taken to the hospital for urgent medical attention.
“Detectives were mobilised to the hospital, where they documented the victim’s condition and later proceeded to the crime scene.”
Odutola said law enforcement authorities are raiding potential hideouts of the cult members to apprehend the perpetrators.
The officer said the deceased was transferred to the morgue for examination while a police investigation commenced.
Babatunde Odugbesan, TASUED’s deputy registrar, has suspended the institution’s ongoing second-semester exams.
“Students are assured of their safety and are advised to remain calm while investigations ongoing get to the root of the cultist attack,” he said.
TASUED has had a disturbing history of cultist activity.
In mid-2023, TASUED was shut for two weeks after a third-year undergraduate was killed in a clash between students and a host community.
Sources had told TheCable that there was pre-existing tension between the students and the Imaweje community over cultism allegations.
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