Toyin Bamidele, a female student at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, in Kwara State, has died.
The student was allegedly hacked to death by unknown assailants suspected of being cultists.
The Higher National Diploma student of Food Technology was said to have been murdered in her rented apartment outside the campus on Thursday, November 16, 2023.
Toyin, who was said to be the girlfriend of the leader of a rival group, was trailed to her residence along the Atari area of the town.
She was washing her clothes at her residence, located at Dapson Hostel (a private hostel), when the assailants came and mauled her to death.
The acting Head of the Public Relations Unit of the institution, Mrs Folake Oyinloye, who confirmed the incident said that the management of the polytechnic has commenced an investigation into the bizarre murder in conjunction with security agencies.
“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 read.
“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,” Oyinloye said.
It was further gathered that a yet-to-be identified man, said to be the leader of a cult group, was macheted to death within the school premises.
A source who spoke to Channels TV said the two killings might be connected with the popular Sign-Out ceremony which has turned into wartime by rival cult groups.
“In a show of retaliation, the deceased was said to have been pounced on by the rival cult group while washing her clothes at her residence and hacked her to death,” the source, who pleaded anonymity, said.
A resident of the area, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: “When we heard the sound of the invasion, some of us had 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.”
Meanwhile, the remains of the two victims have been deposited at the morgue of General Hospital in Offa for autopsy.
