Outrage in Osun over undergraduate’s murder for alleged ritual

Students, residents and non-governmental organisations have protested and lamented the murder of a 400-level student of the State University, Soonibare Timileyin Oluwafemi.

On Wednesday, students of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) embarked on a violent protest to register their grievances over the gruesome murder of their colleague.

The protesting students who held Osogbo, the State capital into ransom stormed various streets as the commercial activities were paralysed.

It would be recalled that one Soonibare Timileyin Oluwafemi, a 400-level Micro biology student of Uniosun was killed by the suspected ritualists.

The State Police Command had on Tuesday Paraded three suspects in connection with the murder of the deceased.

The suspects are: Sakariyahu Abdulrafiu, a 19-year herbalist apprentice and two of his friends, Ayuba Ibrahim, 24 and Yusuff Kareem, 18.

The Osun Commissioner of Police, Mr Olufimihan Adeoye while parading the suspects said they carried out the crime on June 26, at about 7:30pm, at Oke-Bale Area of Osogbo.

He said the suspects conspired and killed one Timilehin Shonibare, a 400 level Micro-Biology of University of Osun, by hitting him on the head with a mortar- pestle.

Adeoye said subsequently after the killing, his head and his two wrists/palms were cut off and his remains was dumped in the bush.

He added the case of a missing person was reported to the police by friends of the deceased victim, on June 27 at 7:45pm and that the information and support provided by the victim’s friends led to the arrest of the suspects.

Adeoye investigation by the police led to the arrest of a 19-year-old herbalist apprentice, Sakariyahu Abdulrafiu and two of his friends, Ayuba Ibrahim, 24 and Yusuff Kareem, 18, with the police on the trail of one other at large.

CP said the head and wrists/palms of the dead student (roasted in a black clay pot) were recovered from Abdulrafiu when he was arrested and that his confessional statement led to the arrest of his accomplices.

He said the remains of the victim, had been recovered, removed and deposited at the mortuary for autopsy, adding that the suspects were being processed and would be prosecuted accordingly.

However, the aggrieved students had Tuesday set ablaze the residence of the parents of one of the suspects at Oke-Baale, Osogbo.

The protesting who appeared in black attire prevented the free flow of vehicular movement at the strategic places in Osogbo.

There were burnfire at various junctions like popular Ola-Iya junction, Old garage, Jaleyemi, Fakunle, Idi-seke, among others.

The protesting students were seen chasing the people with soft arms like sticks, plastic Rod among others, and chased journalists away from covering them.

The specifically attacked a member of Correspondents Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists at Olaiya, Miss Seun Adesokan.

On its part, the government of the state has mourned the unfortunate killing of Sonibare by “some heartless people in the society”.

The government commiserated with students populace in particular and the entire UNIOSUN community, including the parents and family members of the deceased young man.

The government in a press statement by its Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Adelani Baderinwa, said, “We condemn in strong terms the wicked and conscience less manner in which the death of Timilehin was perpetrated. It is most callous, painful and disheartening that fellow humans could plan and execute the elimination of another for self aggrandisement . We note with sadness that it is one of the unfortunate degeneration of values in our society whereby people wants to be rich without work.

“Government feels the pain of Timilehin’s death the more in view of the fact that it came when UNIOSUN is celebrating its wining the world by the spectacular performance of one of its own in far away Ukraine.

“Government takes solace in the fact that the security agencies have gotten hold of some of those who committed the heinous crime. It is the determination of government to collaborate effectively with the security agents to see to it that the offenders are adequately punished.

“Government makes passionate appeal to the students populace to keep calm, peaceful while they rightfully mourn their colleague and allow the killers dealt with. May the soul of the deceased rest in peace.

Also, Osogbo-born professionals, home and abroad, under the aegis of Osogbo Affairs Foundation (OSAF) have condemned the gruesome murder of the Microbiology student of the Osun State University.

In a statement jointly signed by its Convener, Prince Hameed Oyegbade and Steering Committee Chairman, Barrister Abdulrahman Okunade, the Foundation expressed sadness about the gory massacre of the promising young man.

It described the incident and related occurrences in recent times as ones that called for a prompt intervention of all well-meaning persons in the society.

It said, “We must commend the Osun Command of the Nigeria Police, particularly the Commissioner of Police, Mr Fimihan Adeoye and his lieutenants for the professionalism they deployed in the quick resolution of the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the young man over a week ago.

“As interested advocates for a peaceful and crime-free society, we wish to assure the Nigeria Police and other sister agencies of our readiness to assist in any lawful manner possible, towards ensuring that all forms of criminal tendencies are stamped out of Osogbo and Osun State in general.

“It must be emphasised that we feel seriously disturbed that Osogbo’s hospitable nature is being abused by deadly felons who now strive to scare visitors, investors and settlers away from Osogbo with the most reprehensible and scary atrocities that are now becoming a monthly occurrence in the town.

“Such barbaric and maniacal acts are naturally alien to Osogbo, and all attempts to ply such trades in Osogbo shall be resisted with all means lawful.”