By Adeyemi Aleshinloye and Olatunji Haleem
Kenneth Mellanby Hall, University of Ibadan, has been burgled by unidentified persons for the second time in less than thirty days. While the first incident took place few weeks ago, the second and most recent occurred around 2:15am on Tuesday, 21st of February 2017.
Speaking with the Hall Chairman, Mr. Oyegunle Paul, while the first it witnessed the loss of at least “N150,000 and a laptop” among the shops in the Hall, the second incident witnessed a loss of “N50,000 which was supposed to be used for the purpose of starch by one of the butcheries.”
Narrating the second incident in detail, Mr. Raji Oluwaseun, the General Secretary of the hall, who was a first-hand witness narrated that he saw a young man in the cafeteria, from his room in A block about the time roaming about the cafeteria. Based on his suspicion, he approached and challenged the young man, who pleaded that he was charging his phone. Upon being told to leave the cafeteria by the witness, he left and was later found praying in the volleyball court.
“Not long after, I found another young man again in the cafeteria and went to the room of Mr. Chukwuagoziem Chuka, the Vice Hall Chairman, to alert him. Thereafter, both of us went to the hall cafeteria to challenge the suspect. On getting there, it was discovered that the suspect was inside Mama Fibian’s shop, which was unlocked. We told him to come out and though he was reluctant initially, he later came out. He turned out to be an unidentified young man, dressed in black shirt and black trousers. Chuka grabbed him but he bit him and ran way while I alerted those in the Hall to the presence of a thief in the hall”, Mr. Oluwaseun said.
The suspect ran from the cafeteria to the ground floor (often called ‘dungeon’) and up halfway to the second floor from where he jumped and escaped out of the hall. The first suspect seen and challenged by Oluwaseun was later found in the reading room. Both witnesses asked for a means of identification and were shown a University of Ibadan student identification card. Though the source, Mr. Oluwaseun, can no longer remember the student’s name, he said that according to the card, he was a non-Mellanbite.
It should be remembered that during the last end-of-the-session break, other halls of residence which were burgled include; Nnamdi Azikwe Hall, Great Independence Hall and Sultan nBello Hall .
Speaking on the gravity of insecurity on campus and plans being made by his administration, Mr. Oyegunle Paul said, “we are having a recurrence of help materials in watery areas. We are making plans to see how we can collaborate with the hall management and to inaugurate a security team as soon as possible.”
Mellanbites have been advised by to be on their guard, “more security conscious and take it upon themselves to challenge any face we see around, as well as report any suspicious act to the hall excecutives.”
