Obafemi Awolowo University Denies Rape Victim Is Its Student

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has refuted claims that the female allegedly raped by a commercial motorcyclist is one of its students.

On August 21, 2024, NIGERIA NEWS 247 reported that a 29-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Damilare Jacob, was arrested by the Osun State Police Command for allegedly raping and robbing a female passenger who was purportedly a student of OAU. According to the report, the incident occurred on July 26, 2024, when the student boarded Damilare’s motorcycle from the OAU main gate in Ile-Ife, intending to travel to Moro town. However, Damilare reportedly diverted into a bush near RCC Junction, Moro, where he raped and robbed her.

In response to this report, Damilare claimed that the assault was a reaction to the victim’s rejection of his romantic advances.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, OAU’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, clarified that the victim was not affiliated with the university. Olanrewaju emphasized that no OAU student was involved in the incident, noting that the university has been on holiday for nearly a month.

Olanrewaju’s statement read: “The attention of the authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has been drawn to a viral news item alleging that a commercial motorcyclist raped and robbed a female passenger who was purportedly a student of our university. Our thorough investigation has revealed that no OAU student, whether within or outside the campus, was involved in any such incident. The individual in question has no connection with our institution. Our university has been on holiday for nearly a month, making it impossible for any student to have engaged the services of the motorcyclist at the university’s main gate.”

The OAU spokesman urged the public to disregard the false information.