Students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, took to the streets in protest following the gruesome murder of one of their own, Joy Adeyemi, allegedly by her boyfriend, a resident of the host community.
The late Adeyemi, a 200-level student of the Department of Human Kinetics, was reported missing on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, after leaving her POS business stand around 11 a.m. to meet a man identified as her boyfriend at his residence in Medoline, a nearby area in Akungba.
According to a viral message, Joy had gone to deliver a POS cash sum to her boyfriend but never returned.
Days of frantic searching ended after perceiving a foul odor coming from the suspect’s locked room.
Upon forced entry, officers discovered her decomposing body covered with a blanket, with multiple stab wounds and signs of struggle.
Her school bag containing cash was missing. The boyfriend reportedly fled the scene and is currently at large. Police confirmed that three other individuals have been arrested in connection with the crime.
Angered by the incident, AAUA students marched through the town in a massive protest, calling for justice and immediate government intervention. They carried placards bearing inscriptions such as “Stop Killing AAUA Students,” “No More Bloodshed in Akungba,” and “Justice for Joy Adeyemi.”
A protesting student, who gave his name as Kunle, said:
“This is getting out of hand. Just a few weeks ago, we lost two of our colleagues to kidnappers. Now another has been killed in cold blood by someone she trusted. We can’t keep quiet anymore. This must end.”
The protest comes barely three weeks after two students; Andrel Okah and John Abba were abducted and killed. Though some suspects have been arrested in that case, the alleged mastermind reportedly died in police custody.
Reacting, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Committee (JCC), Ondo Axis, condemned the repeated killings. Signed by Comrades Adekanye Adeboye (Chairman) and Oladele Emmanuel (Secretary), the association gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the Ondo State Government and relevant security agencies to:
Apprehend the boyfriend and all accomplices involved.
Strengthen security within and around the AAUA campus.
Ensure the safety of all students and prevent further attacks.
“Failure to act within the stipulated time will leave us with no choice but to mobilize nationwide student protests across Ondo State,” the statement read.
Police spokesperson, DSP Olusola Ayanlade, confirmed the discovery of the body and said three individuals had been arrested. He assured the public that the fleeing suspect, believed to be the deceased’s boyfriend, would be tracked and brought to justice.
“The matter is under intense investigation. Our men are closing in on the prime suspect, and we will not rest until he is in custody,” Ayanlade said.
