An activist from Itsekiri in the Warri Kingdom, Delta State identified as ‘Lord Of Warri’ has written an open letter to the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, demanding justice for the murder of one Alex Timileyi.
Newsmen reports that Timileyi, a student of the Ajayi Crowther University in Oyo State, was allegedly beaten to death inside a hostel known as Shepherd Inn on the school premises by a group of other students for allegedly stealing a mobile phone.
He was said to have been beaten from 6pm on Friday to about 10am on Saturday.
However, in a tweet on Sunday, the Itsekiri activist noted, in a letter titled, “An open letter to His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State: Regarding the tragic murder of Prince Alex Timileyi of the Warri Kingdom at Crowther University, Oyo State,” that the slain student, Timileyi, was a first cousin to the Olú of Warri, Ogíamè Atuwatsé III.
The letter was copied to the X handles of the state governor, the Nigeria Police, President Bola Tinubu, and the Department of State Services, among others.
The activist, tweeting as #Lord_Of_Warri, lamented that the death of the student had left an indelible mark on the Itsekiri people, urging the governor to “ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice.”
The tweet partly read, “I am writing to bring to your attention the tragic and brutal murder of a Prince from the Warri Kingdom at Crowther University in Oyo State. The Prince, Alex Timileyi, was the son of Princess Antonia Emiko, daughter of Olu Erejuwa II (1951-1986), and an aunt of the current Olu of Warri. He was also a first cousin of His Majesty, Ogíamè Atuwatsé III, the Olú of Warri Kingdom.
“This incident has left us deeply saddened and concerned about the safety and security of students in schools not just in Oyo State but in Nigeria as a whole. As Itsekiri people, we appeal to you, the Governor of Oyo State, Makinde, to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice.
“While we are aware that the deceased was alleged to have stolen, we vehemently oppose the act of taking the law into one’s hands without proper investigation. The claim that he was caught with a stolen phone led to a brutal six-hour torture, the beating that began on Friday at 6pm and tragically ended with his death on Saturday at 10am. This inhumane treatment is unacceptable. No one should be punished without a fair trial and due process. It is equally unacceptable for the school management and the perpetrators of this crime to go unpunished.”
The activist bemoaned how the deceased was maltreated without being handed over to the police nor charged in court.
“According to the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, one is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the courts of law, with both sides having an opportunity to present their case and evidence. However, the young prince was neither on trial nor was he arrested. Instead, he was beaten to death. He was also the only son of his mother, making this loss even more devastating,” the tweet read.
He demanded that security operatives “conduct a thorough investigation into this matter and ensure that justice is served. The perpetrators of this heinous act must be held accountable and face the full wrath of the law. We cannot allow the murder of an Itsekiri prince to go unpunished.
“It is important for His Excellency to know that the Yoruba and Itsekiri people are one and the same. Allowing these murderers to go free would be equivalent to allowing the killers of your family members to go unpunished, without seeking justice.”
The university, in a statement issued on Saturday, said, “Contrary to what is trending, the university affirms that there is no cultism in the institution, just as the university has zero tolerance for any sort of anti-social vices and misconduct. It is important to stress that the expelled students do not belong to any cult group.
“What actually happened is that the deceased was alleged to have stolen a mobile telephone, but instead of reporting the issue to the university management, the expelled students could not control their emotions. Their actions led to the unfortunate death of the student.
“The university has taken swift action by handing over all the students involved to the Nigeria Police Force for investigation, with the assurance that justice will be served.”
[Punch]
