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| OAU, Ile-Ife |
What was the mission of Rasak Adebayo, a stranger caught in Awolowo Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State? Students claimed he wanted to blow up the campus; the management said he is deranged, reports KEMI BUSARI (Political Science).
His mission to the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, was not clear, but Rasak Adebayo, a non-student, was found with materials students suspected to be explosives. He was caught at noon on Sunday while attempting to open one of the doors to the Awolowo Hall.
The incident happened barely three days after a fire in the hostel, which students suspected to be an act of sabotage because its source is unknown. Students’ credentials and several other items were burnt in the inferno that razed Room 107 in Block 7 of the hostel.
Students described the stranger as a bomber. Adebayo was clad in a dirty long cloth and shorts. His hair was unkempt.
Items found on him included a stove with new wick, a plastic bottle containing suspected mixture of inflammable liquids, some old newspaper pages and used recharge cards of all mobile networks. The stranger, who feigned insanity, was said to have claimed to be a recharge card vendor.
Eyewitnesses said Adebayo was caught by a student returning from church, who suspected his movement.
“He stalked him till he stopped at Awolowo Hall annex (Block C), where he attempted to open the door. At that point, the stranger was challenged on his mission in the hostel,” a student who simply identified himself as Felix said.
When Adebayo could not explain his mission, it was gathered that the student alerted other occupants of the hostel. Students said the items found on the stranger showed “beyond doubt” that he was up to mischief.
Felix added: “His explanations were incoherent and we could not make out any logical conclusion from his statement because he was feigning insanity, but the items we found on him made us conclude that he was responsible for the fire in the hostel on Tuesday, last week. We concluded that his mission was to do the same when we would have gone out to watch the final match between Germany and Argentina today (Sunday).”
After minutes of questioning, students released him to security officials, who transferred him to Moore Police Station.
Mr Olanrewaju Abiodun, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), denied the stranger was a bomber. He, however, confirmed that “a mentally unstable man” was apprehended by the school security personnel with a stove, kerosene and water.
He said: “Because he could not explain himself properly, the school security operatives believe he is mentally unstable and handed him over to the police. We want people to know that the objects found with the stranger were not explosives.” A thenationonlineng.net extract.
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