Missing AAUA students found dead three weeks after disappearance

The lifeless bodies of two undergraduates of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, have been found in a forest at the border between the state and Ekiti State three weeks after they were declared missing.

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The students, Andrel Okah of the Department of History and International Studies in the Faculty of Arts and John Abba of the Department of Economics in the Faculty of Agriculture were discovered to have been missing classes by their colleagues for over two weeks who consequently raised the alarm to draw attention to the their disappearance.

The President of the institution’s Students Union Government (SUG), Akeem Ologbon, in a statement on Monday, described the news of the death of the students as painful, adding that it has caused deep sorrow across the entire academic community.

Mr Ologbon said when the union became aware of the disappearance of the students, it acted with urgency and responsibility by engaging immediately with the appropriate security agencies to ensure they were found.

“Specifically, we reached out to the anti-kidnapping squad in Akure, which has the mandate and expertise to handle such sensitive cases,” he said.

“In addition, we alerted all relevant security formations within the state. We can confirm that the newly appointed Commissioner of Police has been fully briefed on the situation and is taking the matter seriously.

“We also reached out to the Nigerian police (Scorpion squad) in Akure. These engagements were aimed at ensuring that the case received the attention it deserved and that a coordinated response was initiated across multiple security agencies.

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“As we continue to process this painful news, we urge all students and members of the university community to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified information. The Student Union is in close contact with official sources and will disseminate only accurate and confirmed updates as they become available.”

Mr Ologbon also said that despite the level of pain and anger caused by the news of the killing of the students, the students’ community must remain united and resolute.

“The Union assures every student and stakeholder that we are committed to ensuring that justice is pursued relentlessly,” he said.

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“No stone will be left unturned until the truth is uncovered and accountability is achieved.”

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Ondo State, Olayinka Ayanlade, said he would speak on the matter later.

However, a source in the police command said the bodies of the missing students were found in a bush in the Akoko border community between Ondo and Ekiti States on Sunday.

“It is sad to inform you that the two missing AAUA students have been killed by their suspected abductors. Their corpses have now been located, and our men are on the way to recover them,” the source said.