The life of a 17-year-old student of Bowen University, Opeyemi Odusanya, has been cut short by some cult members in Lagos.
It was gathered that the undergraduate
was murdered for allegedly rejecting sexual advances from some youths in
the area and also for “being too proud.”
PUNCH Metro learnt that the victim was a 300 level student of Biochemistry at the university.
Police authorities told our
correspondent that Opeyemi was stabbed to death by the cultists at her
parents’ house in the Alakuko area of Lagos on February 3, 2014.
Police sources told PUNCH Metro that investigations had revealed that the culprits were residents of the area.
A police officer, who wished to remain
anonymous, said, “In the afternoon of February 3, 2014, the deceased
went to buy airtime for her telephone. As she was returning, a group of
cult members trailed and entered the house with her.
“Opeyemi was alone at home when the guys
entered. They instructed her to turn on the generator so that if she
screamed, no one would hear.
“We believe that they wanted to rape the girl, but she must have put up a fierce struggle as the whole house was scattered.
“The guys subsequently stabbed her in the stomach several times and ripped out her intestines.
“After killing her, they took her phone
and the keys to her parents’ vehicle, a jeep, which was on the table.
They stole the jeep, which was parked in the compound, after killing the
girl.”
The sources told our correspondent that
after the guys had fled, they used Opeyemi’s telephone line to send a
text message to her mother, explaining why they killed the 17-year-old.
The text message, which was typed in
English and Yoruba languages, and made available to our correspondent,
read, “Your child has been proud. We have been toasting her, but she has refused to accept. We have killed her to teach a lesson. We have also driven your car away.
“If you want your car back, come to
Lakas Hotel or Cele Bus Stop around Mile 2 to pick it up. If we see
policemen around, we will kill everybody.”
Residents of the area told our
correspondent that the victim’s mother, Olayinka, had a panic attack
after reading the message and quickly informed those that were with her.
However, a phone call from the family’s
housemaid was said to have confirmed Olayinka’s fears that the text
message was not a bluff.
It was learnt that she returned to the house to meet the lifeless body of her child.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the
mother of the deceased, who is a senior official at the Mushin Local
Government secretariat, later reported the incident at the Alakuko
Police Division.
A police source told our correspondent that the murder weapon had been recovered.
“By all indications, the girl was not
raped because her clothes were intact. The knife used in killing her has
been recovered,” the policeman said.
It was gathered that the parents of the girl had relocated to the Redemption Camp on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Our correspondent, who visited the Facebook page of the deceased, observed that tributes had been pouring in for the 300 level student.
One of her friends, Folake Kuforiji,
wrote, “RIP Dear, May your soul rest in perfect peace and may the
Almighty God protect and console the rest of your family. A real gem is
gone. I remember back then in secondary school when we used to call you
Ope International. You left us too soon, but God knows best.”
A man, Adeniji Chigozie, who claimed to
be her former teacher, wrote, “Remember those days in class. You were
one of the students I cherished and respected. You were respectful and
intelligent. As a teacher, I was very proud of you. The details of the
cause of your death are still sketchy and confusing. Nigeria has lost
another intelligent and beautiful mind – A great star has fallen!
“Above all, I wish your family and loved
ones the fortitude to bear this shocking loss – May God in His gracious
nature comfort them, amen!”
When contacted on the telephone, Police
Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, said, “I have called the
Divisional Police Officer at the Alakuko Police Division and he said he
was not aware of the incident.”
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