The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the Niger Delta Youth Leaders Front have issued a strong demand for an autopsy report on the slain Mechanical Engineering student, Jeffery Chamuke Akron, from Ajayi Crowther University. Akron, an Itsekiri prince from Warri, Delta State, was allegedly tortured to death by his colleagues over accusations of phone theft. The demand follows suspicions that the actual perpetrators may not have been apprehended.
In the aftermath of Akron’s death, 25 students aged 18 to 34 were arraigned on Wednesday before the Chief Magistrate Court in Oyo State. These suspects were remanded in custody until their trial on July 8.
Akron’s tragic ordeal reportedly began at 6 pm on a Friday and continued until 10 am the following Saturday at Shepherd Inn, a hostel within the university’s premises. This prolonged period of torture has led to calls for a thorough investigation to ensure justice.
On Wednesday, NANS leadership visited Ajayi Crowther University in protest, pressing security agents to conduct an autopsy on Akron to determine the true circumstances of his death. Comrade Lucky Emonefe, NANS Universal President, and Honourable Chukwutem Nwogor, President of the Niger Delta Youth Leaders Front, addressed journalists during their visit, expressing doubts about the identities of the 25 suspects arraigned and accusing some security agents and the university administration of attempting to shield the true culprits.
Honourable Nwogor criticized the living conditions at the hostel, describing it as uninhabitable and blaming the Minister of Education for his indifference since the incident. He urged the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, to intervene and ensure proper regulation of university facilities, both private and public. Nwogor stated, “On our visitation to Ajayi Crowther on Wednesday, if you visit the hostel of the school, it is shameful to the National University Commission. What people are just interested in is money, not thinking about the safety of the people. I don’t see any reason why proper facilities are not being put in place before you can approve such a school to have a hostel.”
He continued, “Now that this unfortunate incident has happened, the school is running helter-skelter to fix the hostel. It is also shameful that till this moment, neither the Commissioner for Education for Oyo State nor the Minister has visited the scene or put a call to the family of the late student. What is the reason why you are in government? It is to protect lives and property. The killing of the innocent boy was barbaric. That hostel is uninhabitable.”
In addition to NANS and the Niger Delta Youth Leaders, Itsekiri elders, led by Prince Yemi Emiko, an uncle of the deceased, also visited the university last Wednesday. They inspected the hostel where Akron was allegedly beaten to death and met with the school management. The elders also visited the morgue where Akron’s body is being kept, demanding accountability and transparency in the ongoing investigation.
The calls for an autopsy and the broader demand for justice reflect growing concerns over the handling of the case and the need for improved oversight and safety in educational institutions. The combined pressure from student bodies, youth leaders, and community elders highlights the urgency for a transparent investigation and accountability for those responsible for Akron’s death.