Grieving students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), in Ondo State, have demanded the corpse of the prime suspect, Femi Oladele, who allegedly orchestrated the murder of their two missing colleagues.

This came after the Police Command confirmed the death of Oladele, who reportedly died in a hospital after falling sick on Friday.

The two missing undergraduate students, Andrew Eloho Okah and Nohn Friday Abbah, were allegedly kidnapped and subsequently murdered by Oladele.

The suspect, popularly known as ‘Tallex’, was the students’ landlord.

In a statement on Saturday, the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution expressed deep sorrow over the tragic and untimely death of their two colleagues.

The statement, jointly signed by the trio of Salami Akeem, President; Bakare Abiodun, General Secretary; Ajidagba Mosadoluwa, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the SUG, said the gruesome murder of two students has plunged the entire university community into mourning.

They noted that the death of the suspect has raised pressing questions regarding the circumstances surrounding the murder case of their colleagues.

“Earlier today, it was reported that one of the suspects linked to the murder of the two students had died in a hospital while in custody. This sudden development has further intensified the call for transparency and accountability from the Nigerian Police Force.

“In light of this, the Students’ Union is demanding that the Nigerian Police immediately produce the body of the deceased suspect. We are giving the police a strict ultimatum of 24 hours from the release of this statement to comply with this demand,” the statement reads.

While demanding justice for the killings of their two colleagues, the students’ union leaders said a thorough, transparent, and fair investigation must be carried out by the police over the murder case.

They noted that it is the least owed to the grieving families, the university’s community, and the general public, stressing that findings related to the murder case must be made public and handled with the highest level of integrity.

They, however, asked the police to act with full responsibility, professionalism, and commitment to justice.

“We are bringing this demand directly to the attention of the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal. We reiterate that our demands must be met within the given time frame in order not to result in a mass demonstration by all the students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko and other concerned Nigerian students.

“This protest will be carried out physically as enshrined in our rights as citizens, to demand transparency, accountability, and the proper handling of this sensitive matter. The Adekunle Ajasin University Students’ Union remains resolute in its commitment to protecting the welfare and dignity of its members.” (The Nation, but headline rejigged)