Crime
FUOYE female student’s murder: We need justice, students cry out *Suspect cover-up *Demand safety on campus
Some aggrieved students of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), have cried out over what they suspect were attempts to smear the image of Atanda Modupe Deborah, the female student of the institution, whose body was discovered in a shallow grave near the Faculty of Pharmacy, on Wednesday after she was brutally murdered by yet to be ascertained assailants.
Though the police say they had arrested about 10 suspects, the students, some of them, associates and classmates of the deceased, believe that the attempt to skew the narrative of the circumstances surrounding her death, could be a way of depicting her as a bad person, thus blaming her for the fate she faced.
There had been narratives surrounding the tight wears with which she was covered when her body was exhumed from the grave after it was discovered by a search party, which some people claimed she was wearing before her attack, suggesting that such scanty dressing must have invited her killers.
But in a detailed account by one to the students, who saw her last, such a narrative was far from the truth as she was well covered and had never been known to indulge in untoward behaviours, being a devout Christian, adding that contrary to the allegation that she went out at night, she only stayed back in the classroom to read after the day’s lectured in the afternoon.
The students, who expressed worries about the sudden lukewarm attitude of the authorities of the institution, including the student’s union of the university, demanded security on campus, saying there was no crime in their deciding to move around the compound to pursue their academic dreams.
The students wrote: “We want to give detailed information about the news trending online right now about FUOYE. We are not doing this for clout but simply want justice to be served, correct misinformation and those questioning her character. Now, this unfortunate incident surrounding the death of our friend and colleague, Miss ATANDA MODUPE DEBORAH started on Tuesday when she went to read after classes ended in the afternoon at about 1:30pm in one of the halls close to the faculty and didn’t return in the evening to the private hostel accommodation where she stays located on campus which is about a five-minute walk from the faculty.
“Prior to this, the hostel did not provide light for the students in that residence despite their 24hr light claim so our phones were low and hers was most likely dead because her roommates and friends tried reaching out to her but her line was switched off.
“The situation was reported by her roommates and some friends living in the same hostel to the hostel management which then resulted to some of her departmental colleagues starting up a small search party at about 10:00a.m on Wednesday.
“An e-poster was made to declare her missing and was shared across student platforms. During the search, some of her things were recovered such as: her earrings, a button of her shirt, the buckle from her shoe and her notes strewn about nearby locations.
“After the discovery of her things, a full-blown search was carried out as the SUG and school management eventually got involved which led to a later discovery of her body in a shallow grave around the faculty. She was decently dressed in a blouse and skirt which was taken off of her as she was in her tight shorts as at the time of discovery of her body. She was a God-fearing person and a bright student who was on a 4point CGPA.
“WE ARE CRYING OUT BECAUSE WE NEED JUSTICE FOR MODUPE! GOING TO READ IN A CLASSROOM IS NOT A CRIME. WE AS STUDENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO FEEL SAFE TO MOVE AROUND WITHIN THE CAMPUS! STUDYING TO BE THE BEST IS NOT A CRIME. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SHOULD DO RIGHT BY US AS EDUCATION IS SUPPOSED TO IMPROVE OUR LIVES! We appeal that you pull as much attention to this case as possible. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
“The suspect offered ₦500 million to the SPU commander in an attempt to make the team stand down and allow him to contact his associates to move the consignment elsewhere. The offer was rejected immediately and properly documented for further investigation.”
These were the exact words of Olohundare Jimoh Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), with which he detailed how operatives of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) scoffed at a N500million bribe to turn their eyes off the importation of a huge consignment of drugs imported into the country.
This was part of the details of a major breakthrough by the operatives after bursting a major drug trafficking syndicate in Lagos, which led to the seizure of suspected illicit drugs estimated at ₦7.8 billion and arresting several suspects, including the alleged kingpin.
In the operation, reportedly carried out by officers of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) in collaboration with divisional police detectives, the operatives, were said to have stormed a house in Mende, Maryland area of Lagos, following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering coordinated by the Zone 2 Headquarters.
The recovered drugs consisted of hundreds of bags of suspected Canadian Loud, allegedly stored in the residence of the prime suspect, Jimoh, said disclosing that the suspect was apprehended on May 19 after weeks of strategic monitoring by operatives.
Offering further details, he said the operation was executed with technical support and guidance from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, alongside coordinated efforts between the SPU and divisional police teams.
Jimoh revealed that during the operation, the suspect allegedly attempted to bribe the SPU commander with ₦500 million to compromise the mission and allow the movement of the drug consignment.
The AIG described the development as a reflection of the renewed professionalism and operational discipline being entrenched in the Force under the current policing strategy.
He noted that the success of the operation underscored the importance of deploying specialized police units alongside conventional divisional teams in tackling organized crime.
According to him, the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of rapid containment strategies, intelligence-led policing, and professional conduct among the operatives involved in the raid.
“Rapid containment was achieved as the Special Protection Unit worked with divisional teams to secure the perimeter and prevent escape or interference with evidence.
“The operation was intelligence-driven, following months of surveillance and technical monitoring before the raid was carried out.
“The immediate rejection and documentation of the bribe attempt also reflect the standard expected from redeployed personnel at the divisional level,” Jimoh added.
Reacting to the development, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism, saying the success of the operation validated the ongoing redeployment of personnel to divisions and units across Lagos and Ogun states.
The IGP noted: “Policing must be close to the people, and our specialized units must work side by side with divisional teams on the ground.
“The professionalism shown by the SPU commander in rejecting a ₦500 million bribe and following due procedure is the standard we expect. It shows that when you put your best foot forward at the grassroots, you get results and restore public trust.”
Disu further assured that the Force leadership would continue to reward integrity while holding officers accountable to the highest ethical standards.
Police authorities said exhibits recovered during the operation have been properly documented and will be tendered in court. The suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue to track down other members of the drug trafficking network.
A completely scandalised Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the 2023 presidential election is horrified that Nigeria has descended to the abysmal level of human degeneration where a teacher would be beheaded, recorded and video image shared freely to the public without consequences.
Obi, also former Governor of Anambra State, described the incident involving one of the teachers kidnapped last Friday during an attack on Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School all in Esiele community of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State as “not just a security challenge but a failure of collective humanity.”
On the heels of President Bola Tinubu’s promise on Monday assuring that all victims, comprising, teachers, staff and student of the said schools, Obi, expressed dismay at the utter degeneration of the Nigerian situation.
Writing on his X, Obi, currently running for presidency on the platform of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), said: “Some events shatter a society so deeply that words are no longer enough to express the shock; the brutal killing of a teacher and the horrific rape and murder of an elderly woman are among such tragedies.
“These are not isolated incidents but signs of deeper moral and social decay. How did we get here? How did we reach a point where teachers are hunted and killed, and the elderly—custodians of memory and wisdom—suffer such dehumanising violence?”
Titled ‘A Nation Losing Its HUMANITY’ late Monday, decried the incident and tagged it a sign of moral and social decay, he added: “This is more than a security crisis; it is a failure of collective humanity. We have become desensitised, consuming tragedy briefly and moving on, allowing indifference to normalise the unacceptable.
“To the families affected, I share in your grief. But grief alone is not enough. We must demand accountability and urgent systemic change. If such atrocities no longer move us to action, then we risk losing our shared humanity.”
Obi’s reaction comes after Seyi Makinde, on Sunday, confirmed the killing of one of the teachers abducted alongside other victims and pledged that the government would continue efforts to rescue the remaining abductees.
The governor, who also confirmed that seven teachers and an as-yet-unconfirmed number of pupils were abducted, said one of the abducted teachers, believed to be a Mathematics teacher, was killed by the terrorists.
He said: “What we know right now is that seven teachers were abducted. Unfortunately, we received a video this morning indicating that one of the teachers, understood to be the Mathematics teacher, was killed by the terrorists. Our prayers are with the family.”
Social media influencer and relationship therapist, Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over an alleged N36 million fraud case.
She was docked on Friday by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and alleged theft.
According to the charge, Blessing CEO allegedly obtained N36 million from Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and 17, 2024, under the pretence of securing a six-bedroom duplex located in Lekki, Lagos, a statement on the anti-graft agency’s website said.
The prosecution alleged that the representation was false and violated provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
She was also accused of fraudulently converting the said sum for personal use, contrary to the Criminal Code Act.
Blessing CEO pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read in court.
Following her plea, the prosecution requested that she be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial, while the defence counsel said she had only just been served with the charges and was preparing a bail application.
Justice D. I. Dipeolu ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing of her bail application.
The case was adjourned till June 5, 2026, for trial.
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