Probe death of FUOYE student, FG orders security agencies

Federal Government has ordered the security agencies, vice-chancellor of Federal University Oye-Ekiti, and National Universities Commission (NUC) to ensure that comprehensive investigation is done and killers of Miss Deborah Atanda, a female student of FUOYE are arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law of the land.

Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, gave the directive on Monday in Abuja while speaking at the 2021 and 2022 Nigeria Annual Education Conference (NAEC).

He described as heart-wrenching the murder of a 200-level student of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, from the Department of Nursing who found dead after on discovery that she was buried in a shallow grave behind her department’s lecture hall

Mamman extended his condolences to the deceased family, restating that the perpetrators of the horrendous act would not be spared.

While expressing the commitment of the current administration to ensure that schools and educational facilities are secured across the country, charged the heads of the institutions to take the issue seriously.

“Only last week, we were treated to a report where a University student was murdered at Federal University Oye-Ekiti, the body was found two days later.

“This is heart-wrenching, to say the least. Apart from charging institutions to do everything that is possible to ensure safety in our schools, this government is going to take another extra step, working with security agencies to ensure that students at all levels learn in a very safe environment.

“The ministry has directed the vice-chancellor working with security and indeed the National Universities Commission to ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime are uncovered and brought to book.

“The time has come for us to show examples to serve as deterrent to others,” he said.

In similar development, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun had given directive for the discreet investigations into the killing of the 200-level FUOYE student.

The commissioner of police, Dare Ogundare who spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Monday while appearing before members of the State House of Assembly alongside other sister security agencies in the state said the IGP gave the directives following the gruesome killing of the undergraduate student

Ogundare who said the ten suspects already arrested were helping the police in the investigation towards unraveling and prosecuting the killers of the student.

While condemning the incident, the police boss called on the student bodies in the institution to remain calm and cooperate with the security agencies in a bid to address the situation.

The CP said, “As far as the issue of FUOYE is concerned, we have arrested ten suspects already and let me say that the Inspector General of Police has directed that we should get into the roots of that matter and we are not going to leave any stone unturned to unravel the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

“We are assuring the people that we will do everything possible to ensure that the state is peaceful.

“We have spoken with the students and the Vice-chancellor of FUOYE on the need to maintain calm because all security agencies are working in synergy to ensure the killers of Deborah are arrested and prosecuted.”