Nigeria Content Online

The authorities of
the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, at the weekend mourned
the death of one of its own, Kehinde Jehleel Adeniji, who was killed
during the violence that trailed the outcome of the presidential
election in the north.

Mr Adeniji, aged
26, an engineering graduate of the university, was one of the corps
members serving in Bauchi State murdered by hoodlums who staged a
violent protest after the April 16 poll. His body was returned to the
state at the weekend along with those of other victims of the riots.

In a statement
issued by its principal assistant registrar, Sola Imoru, the
institution said “the unwarranted and mindless killing of the young man
is unfortunate and condemnable.”

Mr Imoru added that
“the killing of the youth, while in the service of his fatherland, has
called into question the philosophy, intent and continued relevance of
the National Youth Service Corps programme.

“It is a crude
irony that a nation that is supposed to breed young leaders with
budding potential like Kehinde will watch hoodlums water its democracy
with their blood with impunity,” he said. “The Nigerian university
community is sick and tired of breeding talents that will end up as
targets of blood-thirsty hoodlums in a section of the country under
whatever guise. Countries across the world protect, educate, provide
for and consciously build their successor generation. We cannot
continue to kill our own and expect to grow and compete in the 21st
century world.”

Punish the killers

The leadership of
the university, while condemning the killing, urged security operatives
to rise up to the occasion and bring those behind the callous act to
book to end the impunity behind such actions.

The institution also prayed God to grant the family of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss.

“The only service the nation can do to the memories of Kehinde and
the other fallen corps members is to find their killers and their
masterminds and bring them to justice as a way of stemming the tide of
mindless killings in the country,” Mr Imoru said.