AAUA Students Protest After Another Student Allegedly Murdered by Indigene

Students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, took to the streets in protest on Saturday following the alleged murder of one of their own, Joy Adeyemi, reportedly by her boyfriend — an indigene of the host community.

The protest comes just weeks after the killing of two other students — Andrel Okah from the Department of History and International Studies, and John Abba from the Department of Economics — who were abducted and later found dead. While some suspects have been arrested, the alleged mastermind reportedly died in police custody.

The latest victim, Joy Adeyemi, was a student in the Department of Human Kinetics and operated a PoS business in the community. She was said to have been missing since Tuesday, only to be discovered dead in her boyfriend’s room after neighbors noticed a foul odour coming from the house. The suspect allegedly fled with her business funds after fatally stabbing her.

Angry students filled the streets of Akungba-Akoko, chanting solidarity songs and holding placards that read: ‘Stop killing us, AAUA students’, ‘Say no to student killings in Akungba’, and ‘Ondo State Government must act now.’

A protesting student identified as Kunle expressed frustration, stating:
“We don’t know why he killed her, but it’s unacceptable. This is the third student killed in just a few weeks. The government must intervene before this gets out of hand.”

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Committee, also condemned the killing in a statement signed by its Chairman, Adekanye Adeboye, and Secretary, Oladele Emmanuel. The group issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Ondo State Government and security agencies to arrest the suspect and prevent further attacks.

“In light of these tragic events, NANS demands urgent action to protect students within AAUA and its surrounding community,” the statement read.

Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, said three suspects had already been arrested, while a manhunt for the main suspect is ongoing.

Meanwhile, AAUA’s Head of Media and Protocols, Victor Akinpelumi, urged students to remain calm and allow the police to carry out a full investigation.