Tension in UNIOSUN as another 400 level student goes missing

THERE was palpable fear and tension in Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo main campus, on Wednesday when another 400 level student of Microbiology Department of the institution, identified as Oluwafemi Oluwatimilehin Shonibare was declared missing.

The latest incident was coming barely nine months after two 400 level students of the same institution were declared missing and their whereabout still remain unknown till date.

Tribune Online authoritatively gathered on Wednesday in Osogbo, capital of Osun State that the final year student was cooking at a private hostel around Suzzy area, at Oke Baale at about 10:pm on Monday when he abandoned the cooking and went out, without disclosing his destination to anybody.

Sources informed our correspondent that his colleagues could not ascertain whether he went out to buy somethings or somebody called him on the telephone but they lamented that he had not been found since that time.

A female student, Ayomide, informed our journalists that students of the university were planning to embark on a rally to protest the incessant cases of missing students in the university.

According to her, students residing at Oke Baale no longer feel safe following frequent cases of alleged kidnaping’ of students, saying that it has become imperative for security agencies and school management as well as community leaders to take action, with a view to ensuring safety of students.

Ayomide, who also hinted that the Police had arrested a suspect she described as Alfa in connection with the case, however, said she did not know the full name of the suspect.

She stated, “another student of UNIOSUN is missing. The boy was cooking at his hostel around Suzzy area on Monday night and he left and has not returned since. We are worried. We called his telephone line but it did not go through. This one is similar to the case of the two 400 level students who disappeared since last year. His friends have told his (Shonibare’s) parents but we are still still expecting them to come to Osogbo.”

Reacting to the incident, the Acting Registrar of the university, Mr Gafar Shittu confirmed the case to our correspondent on the telephone, explaining that “the case is a mysterious one. The boy was seen until around 10:pm on Monday but he has not been seen since then. But we learnt that the police have made one arrest in connection with that now. The police have transferred the case from Oke Baale Police Station to Criminal Investigation Department (CID)”.