UNIOSUN final-year student set ablaze for ‘refusing to join cult’

Victor Oke, a student of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) in Osogbo, has been attacked by suspected cultists over his alleged refusal to join them.

Ademola Adesoji, the varsity’s spokesman, who spoke about the incident on Monday, said Oke is a part-time final-year political science student of the institution.

According to him, the institution had reached out to the student’s family after he failed to come for his final paper which was held on Saturday.

Adesoji said the student was attacked at the Akede area of Osogbo, the state capital.

He quoted eyewitnesses as saying the student was attacked with cutlasses, stones and thereafter set ablaze by the assailants before residents came to his rescue.

The institution said it is working with the police and relevant agencies to ensure those who attacked the student are brought to book.

“It was gathered that some of the eyewitnesses living in the area where the incident happened reported that they heard Oke Ademiju Victor shouting that he was not joining their cult, while they continued to hit him with cutlasses, hard stones and attempted to burn him, partially succeeding before he was eventually rescued,” the statement read.

“We have since been following up with the parents and it is confirmed that he was rushed to the university’s teaching hospital for treatment and later moved to an undisclosed hospital where he is currently receiving treatment.”