Suspected cultists last Thursday hacked a female Higher National Diploma Student of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa in Kwara state and a yet to be identified man to death outside the school campus.
The female student identified as Miss Toyin Bamidele, an HND1 student of the Faculty of Food science and technology.
Punch Metro reliably gathered that while the unidentified middle aged man said to be a leader of a cult group was matcheted to death within the premises of the polytechnic,Toyin who was said to be a girlfriend of the leader of a rival group who couldn’t be found was trailed to her resident at Dapson area in the town where she was hacked to death.
The Federal Polytechnic management which confirmed the murder of the female student said that it was working with the Kwara state Police command to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.
Investigation by our Correspondent revealed that Toyin was washing her clothes at her residence located at Dapson hostel located along Atari area of the mini campus of the institution on Thursday night when the assailants came and mauled her to death.
Further findings also revealed that the death of the two victims might not be unconnected with the now popular “Sign out” ceremonies in the nation’s tertiary institutions whereby students celebrate the end of their last examination which now turned into cult war time by rival cult cultists groups.
Sources closed to the institution also said that the deceased was said to be one of the girl friends of a leader of the cultists group in the school which allegedly hatched the male victim to death within the school premises.
Sources said that, “In a show of retaliation, the deceased was said to have been pounced on by the rival cultists group while washing her clothes at her residence and hacked her to death.
It was further gathered that, the deceased was also alleged to be putting on various dress code of yellow and red at times around in the institution.
The residents of the area who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that, “when we heard the sound of the invasion, some of us have to run for our safety.
“But at the end of the attack which lasted about fifteen minutes, when we got to her room, we discovered the lifeless body of the deceased and then informed the appropriate authorities on the incident.”
Also, a senior police officer at Offa Divisional Police Office who sought anonymity confirmed the incident saying that, ” We have commenced full investigations into the dastardly act in order to fish out the masterminds of the killing of the female student, Miss Toyin Bamidele.”
A statement issued by the Acting Head of Public Relations of the Polytechnic, Mrs Folake Oyinloye said that, “Management of Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State has commenced investigation into the killing of Miss Toyin Bamidele, an HND 1 Food Technology student of the institution by some unknown assailants.
“The incidence was received with rude shock the murder of Bamidele who was allegedly hacked to death in her rented apartment on Thursday 16 November 2023.”
According to the statement, “The management condemns this inhumane act in strong terms as it is strange in the Polytechnic community.
“While the circumstances behind the incident remain unknown, investigations are currently ongoing to reveal the identity of the evil occurrence by the appropriate security agencies and, as a matter of urgency, to fish out the culprits.”
The statement further stressed that, “Her demise is an irreparable loss to the entire management and Staff of the Polytechnic.
“The management somberly condoles with her family, friends, and the Department of Food Technology for the great loss and urges anyone who has useful information on this occurrence to report to Security Agents.
“The management prays to God to repose her soul, grant her eternal rest and uphold her family to bear the loss.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Victor Olaiya, confirmed the incident saying that investigation had been launched to unravel the masterminds of the act.
Meanwhile, the remains of the two victims have been deposited at the morgue of General Hospital in Offa for autopsy to be carried out on them.
