STUDENT DEATH: AJAYI CROWTHER UNIVERSITY DECLARES THREE-DAY MOURNING, FASTING

Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo yesterday declared a three-day mourning as well as fasting and prayers for Akor Alex who was killed on Friday by his colleagues.

The deceased, a 22-year-old, 200-level Mechanical Engineering student, was beaten to death over an alleged phone theft.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Timothy Adebayo, declared the mourning period while addressing reporters yesterday at the Council Chamber of the school in the company of other principal officers of the faith-based university.

Adebayo said: “I sympathize with the family. We don’t pray for such to happen. We are sad about the development. The university has declared a three-day mourning starting from Wednesday to Friday, with fasting and prayer every night against a recurrence of such a sad incident. In those days, it is lecture-free to mourn the departed student.”

The Vice-Chancellor also said he wept for two days over the incident.

He said: “As a Vice Chancellor, I wept throughout Sunday and Monday. Even while conveying the message to the staff members, I wept. I didn’t know I would be able to address this press conference.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Muyiwa Popoola, also confirmed the VC’s statement, saying: “We wept bitterly”.