The Vice-Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo State, Prof. Timothy Adebayo, has expressed anguish over the tragic murder of a student, lamenting the failure of nearly 100 hostel residents to raise an alarm during the incident.
It was reported that a 200-level engineering student of the university, Alex Timileyi, was beaten to death by his colleagues on Saturday over a claim that he stole a mobile phone.
The student was allegedly beaten to death inside a hostel known as Shepherd Inn on the school premises.
Addressing the students and other university stakeholders on Monday, Adebayo recounted his previous warnings about safety measures on campus. “It was about two days ago, last Monday to be precise, that I addressed all of you here, that I told you that you should read your brother’s keeper, that if you hear something, that you must say something, and that you should not just walk alone on campus,” he said.
Expressing his heartbreak over the students’ inaction, the Vice-Chancellor revealed, “When this incident happened, I started crying like a baby, because it means that what I told you to do, you didn’t do it.”
The vice chancellor expressed disbelief that none of the nearly 100 students residing in the hostel where the incident occurred raised an alarm or called for help.
“In that hostel, we have close to 100 students, and none of them could call me, could call Deputy Vice-Chancellor, could even call, if there is any other person on campus to call to be arrested,” he lamented.
The consequence of this inaction was the loss of a young life, as the Vice-Chancellor solemnly stated, “The life of a boy, just move away like that, he died without anybody to help him.”
Consequently, the Vice-Chancellor announced stringent measures, citing a ban on the use of phones on campus by another private university. “You have seen different videos. In fact, because of this, Afe Babalola banned the use of phones on their campus, this morning,” he stated.
Adebayo also called upon students to follow the example of Jesus and reject evil actions, urging them to “remember Jesus as an example for you to learn to prevent evil things.”
While acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the Vice-Chancellor reassured students that the university was taking necessary steps to address the issue. “I want to appeal to you that we are on top of it. We have been to the parents of that boy,” he said.
He also revealed that the perpetrators had been transferred to the Embadma and had confessed to their actions, stating, “They have been transferred to the Embadma. And they have confessed even to what they did. They said, yes, they did it.”
Adebayo further expressed openness to allowing students to return home, saying, “I want to agree with you, your colleagues have been calling us, that can’t we just look at creation on grants and maybe we allow you to go home? Yes! I want to say that we are here for you. That we will do any of the work that you ask us to do.”
Accordingly, the Vice-Chancellor called for a period of fasting and prayer, urging students to participate in seeking divine intervention. “On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday is our fasting and prayer day. Just make sure you participate. I believe in God, that God will turn this land to be very productive, and our Christ-free faith, in Jesus’ name,” he stated.
