The National Association of Nigerian Students and the Niger Delta Youth Leaders Front have demanded an autopsy report on the death of Jeffery Chamuke Akron, a Mechanical Engineering student at Ajayi Crowther University.
Akron was allegedly beaten to death by his colleagues over an accusation of phone theft. Suspicions have arisen that the real culprits may not have been arrested. Following this incident, 25 students, aged 18-34, were arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court in Oyo State on Wednesday and were remanded in a custodial center until July 8 pending trial.
Akron, an Itsekiri prince from Warri, Delta State, lived in a hostel on the university’s premises called Shepherd Inn. He was reportedly tortured from 6 pm on Friday until about 10 am on Saturday.
On Wednesday, NANS leaders visited the university in protest, demanding an autopsy to uncover the true identity of those involved in Akron’s murder. Comrade Lucky Emonefe, NANS Universal President, and Honourable Chukwutem Nwogor, President of the Niger Delta Youth Leaders Front, spoke to journalists during their visit.
They expressed doubts about the 25 suspects arraigned and accused some security agents and the school management of trying to shield the real perpetrators. Honourable Chukwutem Nwogor criticized the conditions of the hostel and the Minister of Education for not addressing the situation.
He said, “On our visitation to Ajayi Crowther on Wednesday, if you visit the hostel of the school, it is shameful to the National University Commission. What people are just interested in is money, not thinking about the safety of the people. I don’t see any reason why proper facilities are not being put in place before you can approve such a school to have a hostel.”
Nwogor continued, “Now that this unfortunate incident has happened, the school is running helter-skelter to fix the hostel. It is also shameful that till this moment, neither the Commissioner for Education for Oyo State nor the Minister has visited the scene or put a call to the family of the late student. What is the reason why you are in government? It is to protect lives and property. The killing of the innocent boy was barbaric. That hostel is uninhabitable.”
Investigations revealed that Itsekiri elders, led by an uncle of the deceased, Prince Yemi Emiko, also visited the university last Wednesday. They toured the hostel where Akron was allegedly beaten to death and had a meeting with the school management. Additionally, they visited the morgue where Akron’s body is being kept.
