The ongoing examinations at Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun State, were disrupted on Wednesday when hoodlums, suspected to be cultists, stormed the institution, dragged out a final-year student, Ahmed Ayinla Fabiyi, and killed him.
Fabiyi, a student of the History and Diplomatic Studies Department, was set to take his final paper and celebrate his birthday on the same day. The incident occurred around 3 pm, just as the exam was about to commence.
According to reliable sources, the attackers disguised themselves as friends supposedly there to surprise Fabiyi for his birthday and “carried” him out of the hall under this pretense. They then dragged him to a secluded area, where they shot him and struck him with a brick on the head, ensuring he was dead before leaving the scene.
“They were having their final paper when some boys suspected to be cultists stormed the examination venue and dragged him out,” said a source. “They kicked him, shot at him, and hit him with a brick on the head. It was only after he was lifeless that they left before the school security men came to pick him up and took him to the school clinic, where he was confirmed dead.”
Confirming the incident, the institution’s Students Union President, Bethel Olorunfunmi, stated that medical personnel’s efforts to save Fabiyi’s life were unsuccessful. “It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of a tragic incident that occurred today. A fellow student was attacked on the school premises and, despite the best efforts of medical staff at the General Hospital, he sadly passed away. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the student during this difficult time.”
In response to the incident, Olorunfunmi announced strict security measures, including a mandatory curfew requiring all students to remain indoors starting at 10 pm. He assured that the university authorities and law enforcement agencies are conducting a thorough investigation and enhancing campus security.
The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Ayotunde Odubela, explained that the attackers’ true intentions became apparent only when they began dragging Fabiyi towards a bushy area near the university’s technical workshop, where they viciously beat and macheted him. “Everyone thought they were celebrating his birthday until he was dragged to the bushy part of the institution’s technical workshop and attacked.”
Odubela added, “The student was actually carried out of the examination hall as if they were celebrating his birthday. That did not make people feel that there was anything happening. They took him out of the hall, and it was later they started dragging him to the ground around the technical workshop. By the time the school security unit arrived, he had already been beaten and macheted. The security men took him to the school medical center, and he was immediately referred to the General Hospital Ijebu Ode and then to Babcock University Teaching Hospital. Unfortunately, he passed away before reaching the hospital.”
State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident and stated that the command had begun an investigation and launched raids on suspected cultist hideouts in the area. “Our officers immediately moved to the scene of the incident. All possible hideouts of the suspects were combed and raided by our detectives, including those from other divisions in the area. Every effort is being made to ensure that all the perpetrators are apprehended,” Odutola stated.
