Date: 2021-06-04

Kwara State Police Command has confirmed the suspected rape and murder of a 300 Level student of the University of Ilorin, Olajide Omowumi Blessing, in her residence located at Tanke area of the Ilorin metropolis.

The deceased said to be staying with her elder sister in the Tanke area until her death was a student of the Agricultural Science Department from Oke-Opin community in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Okasanmi Ajayi, gave details of the killing of the deceased, saying, "the deceased stayed with her elder sister.

The elder sister came back from work at about 06:00 pm on Tuesday, saying that she had tried severally to reach her on phone but couldn't as the phone kept ringing. She came back from work to meet the door of her apartment locked and couldn't gain entry despite repeated knocks on the door. She then called some neighbours who helped to break open the door. They all met the deceased lying dead on the floor when they entered with her two hands tied to the back, and her mouth gagged. She was met naked, bruises were noticed on her private part, her mouth was covered among others.

Also, a note said to have been written on a piece of paper was placed on her chest containing a message, "Unilorin doesn't forgive." The people later informed the police at F' Division Police Station, who discovered the dead body, snapped the picture, and took the corpse to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) for autopsy."

Meanwhile, Okasanmi also said that the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Bagega, has directed immediate investigation and arrest of the attackers, adding, "That's what we are doing right now."

Reacting to the development, Hon Ganiyu Abolarin, representing Ekiti State constituency at the Kwara State House of Assembly, decried the growing insecurity in the State, demanding an immediate investigation, apprehension and prosecution of the culprits.

"I am deeply concerned about increasing cases of rape and brutality against the girl child in Nigeria.

"I strongly condemn the gruesome killing of Olajide Omowumi Blessing, a 300 level student of Agriculture Science at the University of Ilorin, who hailed from Oke-Opin in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.

"This gruesome murder of Olajide Blessing, who was allegedly raped to death in her home at Tanke, Ilorin, is one death too many.

"The action of the culprits horrific, condemnable and should not be condoned by any society.

"I, therefore, urged security agencies to speedily investigate, arrest and prosecute the culprits.

"The perpetrator(s) of this dastardly and barbaric act must be brought to justice, we must all seek justice for late Olajide Blessing.

"We must ensure that all the culprits responsible for this barbaric act are swiftly brought to justice. This nonsensical act of raping must stop in Nigeria. I want to extend my condolences to the family and friends of the victim.

"While I commiserate with the bereaved family on the loss of their daughter, I prayed God to grant Blessing's soul peaceful rest. I also want to urge all our young people to be wary of the company they keep and the places they visited," he added.