The management of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, expressed shock and sadness on Saturday following the reported arrest of Ayomide Adeleye, a 200-level student in the university’s Department of Philosophy, for alleged murder.
Adeleye is being held by the Lagos State Police Command as the primary suspect in the kidnapping and subsequent assassination of Christianah Idowu, a 300-level Pure and Applied Botany student at the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta.
Adeleye was accused of kidnapping Idowu on August 19 in Ikorodu and demanding N350,000 in exchange for his release, after which he allegedly killed and buried the corpse in a shallow grave.
The university, in a statement released on Saturday by Dr. Wale Balogun on behalf of the institution’s Head of Corporate Affairs, described Adeleye’s detention as alarming given the circumstances surrounding his alleged link to such a terrible crime.
The university stated that, as an institution with a zero-tolerance policy regarding violence and illegal activity, it is profoundly concerned about the serious allegation and has denounced it.
The statement partly read, “The attention of the management of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, has been drawn to the arrest of Ayomide Adeleye, a 200-level student of the Department of Philosophy in the university, over alleged murder.
“The news of the student’s arrest by law enforcement agents was quite shocking and disturbing, especially given the circumstances surrounding his reported connection to the crime.
“The university is noted for its serenity, peaceful atmosphere, cult-free activities, and academic excellence among its students.
“As a result of the sensitivity of this tragic situation, the university management will not make further comments on the ongoing investigation as it is a matter for the police and the courts of justice.
“Everyone is enjoined to respect the ongoing investigation and allow the justice system to run its course.”
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, has expressed the university’s condolences to the victim’s grieving family and requested that God grant them the strength to bear the sad loss.
Agboola has also expressed his condolences to the whole university community, particularly students at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, following this terrible tragedy.
