The Management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso has confirmed the gruesome murder of one of its students during an outlawed sign out ceremony in Ogbomoso, Oyo state.

The student, (name withheld) was gunned down at a sign out ceremony at the Ultramodern Wazo market in Ogbomoso.

The Registrar of the Institution, Olayinka, O. Balogun, in a statement submitted, “The death is deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred on Wednesday, 6th August, 2025, at the Ultramodern Wazo Market in Ogbomoso, resulting in the unfortunate death of one of our students during a sign out ceremony.

It is worth of note that the University had issued a ban on sign out activities and consequently prohibited such within the precincts of its Campus since 2023.

Hotels in and around Ogbomoso were also informed and written not to provide LAUTECH students the use of their facilities for ceremonies of that nature.

Despite the ban, however, preliminary investigations after the occurrence revealed that a group of students who engaged in rule-bending behaviour, chose to hold a sign-out ceremony on the football pitch within the Wazo Ultramodern Market.

It was gathered that the ceremony turned tragic when a male student was shot, allegedly at the venue, and later succumbed to his injuries. Information was also received that he left the venue on his motorbike and struggled to move it till he fell off where he was later found unresponsive.

Upon receiving a distress call, the Acting Dean of Student Affairs promptly investigated the situation and contacted the relevant formations of the Oyo State Police Command in Ogbomoso, including the Monitoring Unit and the Area Command.

Police personnel were deployed to the scene, and a search of the bag found on the body yielded information that the University checked from its back end and confirmed the deceased’s identity as Mr. Babalola, Marvelous Olanrewaju, a 300 Level student of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

The body was subsequently moved to the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Morgue.

The University is cooperating fully with the police as investigations continue. We have also informed the parents of the deceased.

The Management extends its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased. May God grant him eternal rest, and may his family find solace during this difficult time.