The Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) has been trending on social media, but this time, for wrong reasons as the body of missing 200 Level student of Nursing Department, Modupe Deborah Atanda, was found buried in a shallow grave.
Deborah, who was enrolled in the Nursing Department, Stream A, in the Faculty of Basic Medical Science at the institution, reportedly went missing after she went to study in her class on Monday night, September 4 and did not return.
As posted by Dr. Penking @drpenking on X (formerly Twitter), Deborah went for night reading inside the school compound and never returned.
He also alleged in his post that the deceased’s friends informed the school authority that she was missing but the school did nothing about it.
Her friends, however, formed a search party and two days later, found her body in a shallow grave right inside the school compound in front of Pharmacy building, with her eyes plucked out and other vital body parts missing.
Contrary to Dr. Penking’s tweet, DAMAK @AkingbadeAkinr1explained via a tweet claimed that the deceased’s eyes were not plucked out; saying, it was just a case of rape, kill and bury.
This is even as Dr. Penking’s post further alleged that FUOYE Students Union Government (SUG) had been manipulated to deny that her eyes were plucked out “even when it is evident” in the gory picture circulating.
“How was such an atrocity committed inside a school compound that is supposed to be safe? Where were the security men?,” Dr. Penking queried; while he called on Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State to wade in and ensure that the murdered student and her family get justice.
“This shouldn’t happen to anybody’s child,” he expressed.
Reacting to Dr. Penking’s post, only1Aqua @akua_samuel who apparently is a student of FUOYE said, “The bush inside my school, starting from Phase One to Phase Three is enough to start a wild life.
“No ID cards to even keep track of people who gain access to the school premises, everything about the school and its community (Oye Town) is something else, network zero, security zero.”
According to DAMAK, the prime suspects are the bricklayers that sleep in the school premises around where her body was found.
DAMAK had tweeted, “1. Her eyes wasn’t plucked out
“2. It is a case of rape, kill and bury, the prime suspects are the bricklayers that sleep in the school premises around where her body was found. If they aren’t the perpetrators, they must know who did,’
“3. The school swung into action immediately, but it was quite unfortunate that her dead body was found, although, the school also has faults, so many bushes around without solid security.’
Meanwhile, the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution in a statement issued and dated September 6 lamented that the cause of death and manner in which the deceased died are of great pain to the entire student populace in FUOYE.
The statement as signed by the Union’s President and Spokesperson, Ajayi Dotun Emmanuel and Akuraku Kofoworola Elizabeth claimed that FUOYESUG visited the morgue and were able to confirm that no part of the deceased’s body was mutilated contrary to claims and rumours making the round.
The SUG confirmed that not less than 12 people have been arrested in connection with the crime while it expressed its determination to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.
Some other reactions on X are:
Jude Speakz @givandchill: ‘When our sisters are not free to walk anywhere by themselves, then we have an epidemic of sorts in our hands. We have to be outraged by this. Somebody knows something, please speak up. @PoliceNG please do the needful.’
Blaccode @IamBlaccode: ‘Maybe the school knew about rituals… Then I heard some VC dey do rituals inside school, dey carry sacrifice put for junctions.’
Rtn. Tope Johnson Esq @TopeOdeniran: ‘I feel pained as a parent, if Nigerian Institutions are no longer safe for learning, why do we send our sons and daughters to the institutions only to be retrned as deceased, may God comfort the bereaved.’
Yarchipchip (mrs) @ceo_HisaasEnt: ‘I saw this on one of her friend’sstatus, I was devastated the way this country is moving is something else. I hope she gets justice.’
In response to the harrowing situation, the University’s Registrar, Mufutau Ibrahim on Wednesday evening issued a statement asking all students to immediately vacate the campuses.
The university administration said it had rapidly deployed armed security personnel for increased patrols, surveillance and enhanced security measures.
According to the statement, multiple individuals have been arrested in connection with the murder.
Meanwhile, a group of 10 suspects have been apprehended by the Ekiti State Police Command in relation to the incident.
The spokesperson of the command, DSP Abutu Sunday, confirmed that the suspects are undergoing investigation in custody.
He also stated that the Commissioner of Police in the state has directed a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Deborah’s death.
