News Update

THE management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has confirmed the killing of a student during an off-campus “signing out” ceremony.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Registrar, Olayinka Balogun, the university described the incident as tragic and deeply saddening. According to the statement, the incident occurred last Wednesday at the Wazo Ultramodern Market in Ogbomoso, leading to the death of a male student.

Balogun noted that the institution had banned all “signing out” activities since 2023, both within the campus and in nearby hotels. The restriction, he said, was communicated directly to hotel operators in and around Ogbomoso.

“Despite this ban, preliminary investigations revealed that a group of students defied the directive and organised a signing-out event on the football pitch inside Wazo Ultramodern Market,” the statement read. “The gathering turned tragic when one of the male students was shot. He reportedly left the scene on his motorcycle but collapsed along the way and was later found unresponsive.”

Upon receiving a distress call, the Acting Dean of Student Affairs alerted the Oyo State Police Command in Ogbomoso. Officers from the Monitoring Unit and Area Command were deployed to the scene.

A search of the victim’s bag revealed his identity as Marvelous Olanrewaju Babalola, a 300-level Mechanical Engineering student. His body was taken to the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital morgue.

The university pledged full cooperation with the police as investigations continue and has formally notified the student’s family.

“The management extends its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased. May God grant him eternal rest and comfort his loved ones during this difficult period,” Balogun added.

It will be recalled that LAUTECH first banned “signing out” ceremonies in 2021, citing their promotion of indiscipline and immoral behaviour.