The Management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso in Oyo State, on Wednesday, confirmed the gruesome murder of one of its students during the signing out ceremony in the institution.
The Registrar of the institution, Olayinka Balogun, in a statement in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, said the death is deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred last Wednesday at the Ultramodern Wazo market in Ogbomoso, resulting in the unfortunate death of one of the students during a sign out ceremony.
Balogun explained that the institution had earlier issued a ban on sign out activities and consequently prohibited such within the precincts of its campus since 2023, and also informed hotels around the ancient city.
The statement reads in part, “It is worthy of note that the university had issued a ban on sign out activities and consequently prohibited such within the precincts of its campus since 2023.
“Hotels in and around Ogbomoso were also informed and written not to avail LAUTECH students the use of their facilities for ceremonies of that nature.
“Despite the ban however, preliminary investigations after the occurrence revealed that a group of students who engaged in rule-bending behaviour, chose to hold a sign-out ceremony on the football pitch within the Wazo Ultramodern market.
“It was gathered that the ceremony turned tragic when a male student was shot, allegedly at the venue, and later succumbed to his injuries. Information was also received that he left the venue on his motorbike and struggled to move it till he fell off where he was later found unresponsive.
“Upon receiving a distress call, the Acting Dean of Student Affairs promptly investigated the situation and contacted the relevant formations of the state Police Command in Ogbomoso, including the Monitoring Unit and the Area Command.
“Police personnel were deployed to the scene, and a search of the bag found on the body yielded information which the university checked from its back end and confirmed the deceased’s identity as Babalola, Marvelous Olanrewaju, a 300 Level student of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
“The body was subsequently moved to the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Morgue.
“The University is cooperating fully with the police as investigations continue. We have also informed the parents of the deceased.
“The Management extends its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased. May God grant him eternal rest, and may his family find solace during this difficult time.”
Recall that the school at a point in 2021 banned signing out ceremony, citing that it promoted immoralities and indiscipline.
