Nigerians have taken to the microblogging site X.com to express their shock, anger, and disbelief over the brutal death of Alex Timileyi, a 200-level engineering student at Ajayi Crowther University in Oyo State. Timileyi was allegedly beaten to death by his colleague on Saturday over accusations of stealing a mobile phone.

The incident occurred inside a hostel known as Shepherd Inn on the school premises. After Timileyi was allegedly found with the stolen phone, it was reported that his attackers forcibly shaved his hair before beating him.

A source within the school, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, claimed that the assault began at 6 p.m. on Friday and continued until about 10 a.m. on Saturday. “They said they caught him with a stolen phone. They started beating him from 6 p.m. yesterday (Friday) until he died at about 10 a.m. today (Saturday). They also shaved his hair before beating him,” the source said.

Two videos shared with our correspondent on Saturday night showed Timileyi rolling on the hostel floor while other students beat him with sticks. In one video, a student can be heard encouraging others to hit him “harder, harder.”

In response to the incident, the university expelled several students involved in Timileyi’s death and dismissed claims that the suspects were members of a cult group. Femi Atoyebi, the university's spokesperson, described the event as “the unfortunate death of the student” and emphasized that the expelled students were not associated with any cult. “The deceased was alleged to have stolen a mobile phone, but instead of reporting the issue to the university management, the expelled students could not control their emotions, leading to the unfortunate death. The university has handed over all involved students to the Nigeria Police Force for investigation, ensuring that justice will be served.”

Despite these measures, Nigerians continue to demand a thorough investigation and justice for Timileyi. Activist @Lord_of_Warri, in a letter titled “An open letter to His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State: Regarding the tragic murder of Prince Alex Timileyi of the Warri Kingdom at Crowther University, Oyo State,” described the victim as a prince and first cousin to the Olú of Warri Kingdom, Ogíamè Atuwatsé III. The letter was sent to the X.com accounts of the state governor, the Nigeria Police, President Bola Tinubu, and the Department of State Services, among others.

The activist expressed that the student's death had left a lasting impact on the Itsekiri people and urged the governor to ensure justice is served. “This incident has left us deeply saddened and concerned about the safety and security of students in schools, not just in Oyo State but in Nigeria as a whole. We appeal to you, Governor Makinde, to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice,” the tweet read.

He called for a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible. “The perpetrators of this heinous act must face the full wrath of the law. We cannot allow the murder of an Itsekiri prince to go unpunished. Allowing these murderers to go free would be equivalent to allowing the killers of your family members to go unpunished, without seeking justice.”

Another user, @Jessica_Egbedi, wrote, “Now he’s dead, so sad… Why didn’t they just hand him over to the school authority?”

“I feel traumatized watching this video. There's no difference between the suspects and Boko Haram. It seems tyranny and lawlessness are prevalent traits in the average Nigerian. Although we may lack confidence in @PoliceNG to deliver justice, that doesn't justify taking the law into our own hands,” wrote @Jojo_Amandy.

Similarly, @FaventM posted, “The ‘leaders’ of tomorrow. Many are born into comfort but lack basic etiquette. Whether from the ghetto or affluent environments, it’s all bad behavior in different forms and shapes.”

Another user, @HENRYDAVIE10116, commented, “This is not a good image for the Anglican Church University. I am sure the church leaders will sanction the management and conduct a thorough investigation into the handling of hostels and student affairs at the university.”