The Ogun State Police Command has announced that a manhunt has begun for the robbers who allegedly raped two 100-level female students of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ìjèbú-Ode, after invading their rooms in a residential area on Monday.
The command spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, announced the manhunt during a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Tuesday.
The incident, which occurred around 12:30 am on Monday, followed the recent death of Fabiyi Ayinla, a final-year student in the History and Diplomatic Studies Department. Ayinla was assaulted on July 3, 2024, leading to his death.
After Ayinla’s death, PUNCH Metro reported that the school’s management suspended examinations at the institution for several days.
During Monday’s incident, our correspondent learnt that the suspected robbers gained entry into the female students’ apartment by cutting through a mosquito net on the window around 12:30 am.
After gaining entry, the two female students were forced at gunpoint to surrender their mobile phones and were then taken to a nearby uncompleted building, where the suspects took turns raping them.
A source at the school, who pleaded anonymity due to the severity of the matter, stated that the students immediately reported the incident to the head of the school’s security, who then informed the police.
The source said, “They tore through their mosquito net that was used to cover the window. When they entered, they ordered them at gunpoint to provide their cell phones.
“They asked them to open their doors since they entered the room through the window. They said they were going to use the ATM card they took from the students to withdraw from a Point-of-Sale machine.
“But when the ladies opened their doors, they led them to an uncompleted building opposite a 10-block self-contained apartment where the suspects took turns raping each of them.”
The school’s Public Relations Officer, Ayotunde Odubela, did not answer his phone or respond to our correspondent’s text message on Tuesday when PUNCH Metro sought his reaction.
However, the acting President of the school’s Student Union Government, Miss Bethel Olorunfunmi, informed our correspondent on Tuesday that the association was aware of the incident and that efforts were ongoing to address it.
“Yes, we are aware. The necessary steps have been taken,” she simply stated during a telephone conversation with our correspondent.
Meanwhile, the command’s spokesperson, who had earlier confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Monday, disclosed that police operatives in the Igbeba Division would leave no stone unturned to bring the culprits to justice.
She said, “The incident was reported at the Igbeba Police Division at about 10:00 am. Our operatives immediately combed the area in search of the suspects.
“Efforts are in top gear to arrest everyone involved in the crime. The survivors have been taken to the school clinic for treatment.”
PUNCH Metro reports that the institution has recently been under intense scrutiny. In October 2023, four female students of the institution were also reportedly raped by individuals suspected to be armed robbers in one of the university communities.
