Notable Itsekiri traditional leader and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Chief Ayiri Emami, has demanded for the shutting down of Ajayi Crowther University in Oyo State over the murder of Prince Alex Timileyin by students of the institution.
Chief Ayiri also called Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman to take drastic action over the circumstances surrounding the killing of the 200-level student of the school.
Prince Alex was born into Itsekiri and Uvwie royal families in Delta State until he was assaulted to death on Saturday morning.
Prince Alex was beaten to death by some of students of Ajayi Crowther University for allegedly stealing a mobile phone belonging to one of them.
A video of the moment the deceased was being beaten by his colleagues had since gone viral on the social media.
In the said viral video of the one the students of the university was seen beating the late prince who was seen rolling on the floor with a cane, while others were seen hailing the assault of the student after they had forcefully shaved his hair.
Reacting to the incident in a video on Sunday, Ayiri, condemned the incident, and demanded for a probe of the unfortunate incident.
Chief Ayiri, who spoke in pidgin, said “Makinde, I hope you dey hear me anywhere you dey? And the Minister of Education. Whether that minister is my oga (Tinubu) boy. E don happen e don happen. They must follow this matter to the latter if not ehn…the boy na prince for Uvwie and na prince for Warri. Two areas wey no too good na combine born the boy.
“E be like say the school say the school still dey on. By now dem don supposed close the school. We no wan take laws into our hands. Anybody wey know the Minister of Education and Governor Makinde dem don kill Warri boy o.”
Also reacting to the development, social media influencer and aunt to the deceased, Memuduaghan Tuoyo , popularly known as Mama T of Warri, described the murder of Prince Alex as unacceptable, saying that the undergraduate was murdered in the school hostel.
Mama T of Warri in a post on her verified Instagram account said the deceased was an Itsekiri prince and called on Governor Seyi Makinde to investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, the school authorities have announced the expulsion of the students said to have been involved in what they called the “fight that led to the death of a fellow student”.
According to NAN, the institution, in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Femi Atoyebi, on Saturday evening, denied the reports making the rounds that those involved in the killing were members of a secret cult.
Atoyebi said: “Contrary to what is trending, the university affirms that there is no cultism in the institution, just as the university has zero tolerance for any sort of anti-societal vices and misconduct.
“It is important to stress that the expelled students do not belong to any cult group.”
Atoyebi said what actually happened was that the deceased was alleged to have stolen a mobile telephone.
He, however, said that instead of reporting the matter to the university management, the expelled students could not control their emotions, adding that their actions led to the unfortunate death of the student.
The spokesperson said that the institution acted swiftly by handing over all the students involved to the police for investigation, assuring that justice would be served.
“The university remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring a safe, conducive, peaceful and godly atmosphere for learning,” Atoyebi said.
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