LAUTECH denies link to murdered youth in Ogbomoso, awaits police confirmation

By Adejayan Gbenga –

The management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, has responded to reports linking the murder of a young man in the town to the institution, stating that there is no formal confirmation yet that the deceased was a student of the university.

The individual, identified as Ridwan Oladipupo, was said to be a 300-level student of Agricultural Engineering at LAUTECH. He reportedly left his off-campus residence on Lawyer Ahmed Street on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, heading to the university’s main campus to study. His lifeless body was later discovered in front of Nurudeen Grammar School along Under-G Road in Ogbomoso.

In an official statement signed by the university’s Registrar, Mrs. Olayinka Balogun, the institution clarified that it had not received any formal documentation or confirmation identifying the victim as one of its students.

“The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso has unofficially learnt about the demise of Mr. Ridwan Oladipupo, reportedly a 300-level student of Agricultural Engineering. He was said to have left his hostel on June 24 without disclosing his destination,” the statement read.

According to the statement, the Acting Dean of Student Affairs was contacted by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Owode Division on June 25, regarding the discovery of a corpse. Initial attempts by the police and the university to identify the body were unsuccessful, as neither students nor local residents could confirm his identity at the time.

The university noted that the body was taken to the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital mortuary, and it wasn’t until June 29 that a man, claiming to be the deceased’s father, visited the hostel accompanied by a police officer to make inquiries.

“As of now, there is still no official representation before the university,” the statement emphasized, adding that the matter remains under investigation by the Nigerian Police Force, Owode Division.

LAUTECH management urged the public to allow the police investigation to proceed without interference and refrained from further comments to avoid compromising the case.