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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Two persons said to be members of the Awo Hall Executive have been arrested by the police, following the death of Ahize Okoli, a 500 Level student in the Civil Engineering Department of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Okoli was reportedly beaten to death by a mob on suspicion that he stole a mobile phone.
The student was accused of stealing a mobile phone in Awo Hall on Monday and after he had been severely beaten, he was moved to the Students Union Building in the early hours of Tuesday where he remained till around noon.
It was learnt that because of the beating he received, Okoli’s health deteriorated and he was rushed to the OAU Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, where he was confirmed dead on Tuesday afternoon.
The Osun State Police Command, while giving an update on the incident, described the two people detained as student leaders.
The command’s spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, who addressed the media on Thursday, said: “Investigation into the incident will continue and justice would be served. We have arrested two student leaders in connection with the incident.”
Also, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, in a statement said the police should be allowed to investigate the matter, adding that the management of the institution would also carry out its own investigation.
“The university will not meddle in such a grievous offence. It bothers on the criminality of murder.
“So, let the police do their job and we will do our own here. We are going ahead with our investigation,” he said.