BY DAYO ADESULU
The Management of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, has explained the sudden disappearance of John Oluwanifemi from the institution’s campus.
Caleb University in a release through Dr Elvis Otobo, the Deputy Director, Public Relations and Marketing said: “Mr John Oluwanifemi Olajide was last seen on Campus on the 18th of August, 2021. Prior to that, he had a detailed chat and discussion with his sister, Stella Olajide, between August 15 and 17th, on how he should leave the school premises unnoticed.
“He apparently complied with this instruction, which also specifically asked him to leave his luggage and phone behind, while finding his way out of the campus. We got this information from WhatsApp messages obtained from Stella’s phone. It was also this chat that first mentioned the issue of “cult”.
“According to the WhatsApp Chat, Stella called an identified family contact on campus on August 19th to find out if John had left Campus.
“A Search Team immediately went into action, but their efforts proved abortive, as John could not be found in the hostel or anywhere on Campus.
“The University Management immediately contacted John’s parents. Both parents visited the school on August 20th and affirmed that they have not seen him.
“Thereafter, the school reported the matter on 21st August, to the Imota Divisional Police Station.
“The Divisional Police Officer, personally visited the University on the 22nd of August, for preliminary investigation. This led to another visit on the 23rd August with a team of police officers led by the Divisional Police Officer.
“On the 25th of August, Area N, invited officials of the school and they responded swiftly to the invitation. The case was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Yaba, where both parties were invited and interrogated on the 27th August, 2021, and requested to come back on the 30th of August.
“On the 30th of August, The Caleb University team was present, but John’s sister, Stella, and her parents did not show up.
“The WhatsApp records show that John and Stella communicated between 15th and 17th August, 2021 – a period that John was supposed to be ‘missing’.
“The University is gravely concerned over the fact that Stella never reported the issue of the alleged cultism and or threat to John’s life to the school management, parents or the police.
“According to our internal investigation and information obtained from WhatsApp chats between the siblings, we are of the stong conviction that this was a premeditated action, deliberately planned by John and sister. We do not know what could be their motive.
“For instance, it was Stella who transferred four thousand naira (N4,000) to John, purportedly to facilitate his movement to an unknown location outside the campus.
John curiously used the money sent to him by the sister (Stella), but according to his father, did not withdraw the N4,000 sent earlier by him to his son.
“The University management pasted John’s picture in various strategic locations within the campus to help in getting relevant information. It is the University that gave an electronic copy of John’s photograph to his father.
“The management reported the matter promptly at Imota Divisional Police Station with the sole objective of getting to the root of this matter, and bringing our student back promptly and safely.
“We have followed up with this matter diligently since it was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, and have been in constant touch with the police authority.
“The University has since its inception in 2008 not had a Cultism-related incidence. Thus, the alleged cult threat may have been an external issue not connected to the University.
“Infact, John’s father, appreciated our efforts on this matter as stated in one of the text messages he sent to the CSO of Caleb University on August 27, 2021, as follows:
“Good evening Sir, I’m really grateful for all you have done for me and my family at this darkest hour and l strongly believe it’s well for our prayers and that of other children of God will manifest in Jesus name, Amen, Olajide.”
It added: ‘We wish to assure members of the public, our esteemed parents, members of staff and precious students, that our campus is adequately secured, safe and serene.
“We share the pains and the agonizing experience that the family is presently going through. However, we will continue to work with the Police and other stakeholders for a happy resolution of this matter. We pray that the good Lord will take absolute control so that John Oluwanifemi Olajide will be reunited with us all soonest.”
Elvis Otobo, PhD, Deputy Director,
Public Relations and Marketing.
