The murder of Taiwo Shittu, a 500 Level Fisheries student of the University of Ibadan, in her apartment in Ibadan (UI), three weeks ago has increased concern about security of lives and property across the country, writes BISI OLADELE
When charming Taiwo Shittu came home early to catch a nap on Wednesday, February 19, after the day’s work, little did she know that it would be her last, as she was hacked to death with a machete in her room by an unknown assailant after being sexually assaulted.
The 27-year-old, 500 Level Fisheries & Aquaculture student of the University of Ibadan (UI) lived off the campus with her elder sister around the Bola Ige International Market on New Ife Road, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Taiwo had gone to school in the morning and returned at about 2:00pm on the fateful day to take a rest after a tedious practical session with her colleagues somewhere in the city. But a yet-to-be-apprehended killer went into her room in a two-room apartment with a cutlass and hit her on the head severally until she died in a pool of her blood one hour later.
The police are still working hard to fish out her killers who are thought to have assaulted her sexually before macheting her to death. She was found naked in the room with only her underwear hanging on her thigh with blood all over her body. The cutlass was laid beside her.
Who killed Taiwo?
Taiwo’s sister, who rented the two-room apartment in the building that contains two other mini flats, gave details of the events that preceded Taiwo’s death.
The woman, who did not want her name in print, recalled: “Around 7:00am on Tuesday, February 18, I heard a knock on the gate and I attended to the man. He introduced himself as a gardener engaged by the landlord to weed the compound. So I let him in. He went to the backyard and started preparing to start work. I left home to work at 7:15am and my sister went to school. She returned around 2:00pm. I met her at home when I returned in the evening.
“The following day, the gardener returned at the same time. I opened the door again and returned to my room. I went to work again at 7:15am, leaving my sister behind. At about 9:20am, I returned home. By then, Taiwo had gone to school.
“Shortly after I entered, the landlord entered the compound and checked all the apartments in the compound. I came out of my apartment and greeted him. He asked if I was the only tenant left in the compound and I answered in the affirmative. I also informed him that information at my disposal suggested that another tenant had paid and would soon move in.
“Then he assured me that he would soon install a pumping machine in the well. After saying that, he went out of the gate and later came in with an Aluminum technician, who had worked on the building before. He faced that man and expressed surprise that he earlier told him that another tenant had moved in. But the man said he did not know. Then all of us went out of the gate.
“I asked him to give me his phone number before he left so that I can be discussing with him directly. He said he was not leaving yet but still gave me the number. He said he would hold a meeting with the agent at about 3:00pm or 4:00pm later in the day. He discussed that over a telephone call with somebody.
“Then, I withdrew into my apartment. I planned to leave for work around 2:00pm but I left before 2:00pm. I didn’t see any of them while leaving the compound. When I met my colleague at work, she asked why I left my phone at home because my sister picked it when she (my friend) called me at 2:15pm.
“On getting home at about 5:30pm, I tried to open the gate but it was difficult. I eventually opened and later also opened my apartment. I thought my sister was sleeping in the room. When I went into the room, I met her naked with her underwear half removed with machete cuts on her head.
“Out of fear, I ran outside the gate to the nearest building which is a Cherubim & Seraphim church, adjacent the building and raised the alarm. But they refused to follow me. They told me to invite the police.
“Frustrated, I moved to another nearby building. The occupants screamed and all of them followed me into my apartment. Then I went back to work and my bosses followed me to the police station at Adelubi, behind Nigerian Breweries plant. The case was later transferred to the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CID), based on request by the University of Ibadan (UI).”
She described her sister as “very gentle, cool and easy-going.” The bereaved said that the landlord sometimes visits the building.
The Oyo State Police Command has since arrested the landlord and the gardener. It was learnt that the cutlass that the gardener was using was the same found beside Taiwo’s corpse.
Narrating his ordeal, the landlord, Mr Oyawola Lawrence denied any involvement in the sad incident.
The 65-year old retiree said: ”On February 18, I gave the gardener a clearing job in my yard. I have always engaged him for the job. So he is used to the premises.
“There is a carpenter I have mobilised to fix the doors with an advance payment of N35,000.
That same morning, he went from home to the site. I told the carpenter I was coming to pay him. The house is managed by an agent.
“That 19th, (following day) Taiwo’s sister came out when we were there and we discussed. I promised to buy another pumping machine. She collected my phone number, saying the agent was not treating them well. Then I left with the carpenter after noon.
“Later in the evening somebody called me that something happened in my house, adding that the landlords (in the area) had gone to lodge a report at the police station. When policemen came, they could not gain access into the room because the door to the room was locked. They went back and got instruction to force it open. Then we saw the body.
“The agent, two landlords and I went to the police station. The police said they learnt that somebody was cutting grass in the house. We made statements. They took the gardener to the house to show them where he kept the cutlass. He showed them but I don’t know the location. When we were leaving that day, policemen asked me to leave my number and I did. Then, on Saturday, they phoned and asked me to report at their station on Monday, 24th.
“I have never met the girl in question. I only met the sister that day. I only said I would meet the agent in the evening to talk about how to buy pumping machine and I didn’t go back there that day.”
The gardener, who simply identified himself as Azeez, is an imbecile. The 33-year old accused the landlord of killing Taiwo but his claims were full of contradictions and incoherent.
While the Police are working on other leads that could help track down Taiwo’s killers, her classmates recalled a dutiful and easy-going friend.
One of her closest friends, Dorcas Awosemo, described Taiwo as “cool, calm and easy-going.”
She said: “We were very close and we’ve been relating since 100 Level. I don’t even know how to describe her. She was so cool, calm and easy going. I miss everything about her – meekness, gentleness – I miss everything about her. I miss her indeed.”
She recalled that they went for a practical work at a stream in Ikolaba, area of the city, adding that they planned to meet the following day.
“I was in the library. I couldn’t even believe it when Jumoke told me. She received a message. Immediately I saw her shaking, her hand was shaking and I asked her what happened. So she now showed me the message. I think it was a message on Whatsapp. I saw that Taiwo was murdered. I couldn’t believe it. I said it can’t be. I think the day the incident happened we went for a group assignment. So we both departed from Sango and I sent my regards to her sister and we planned to meet on Friday because that was on Wednesday so that we can finalise the practical assignment. Hearing the news on Thursday, that she had been murdered, it was unbelievable.
“Taiwo was always available and whatever she found doing, she did. She was very good. She participated in the assignment. She was even the group leader. After the whole assignment when we were going, we were joking, smiling and not knowing that would be the end.”
To Dorcas, the most striking qualities Taiwo possessed was dedication and discipline.
Another close friend of the deceased, Olajumoke Akanmu recalled that she saw her a day before she was hacked to death.
She said: “We had a class and we were given assignment. It was a practical assignment and she was the leader of her group and I was the leader of my group. So we discussed on how we were going to do the assignment. She told her group mates that they would be meeting the following day and that assignment was to look for a river. So I was even telling her they can use the river in Orogun for their own assignment. On that day, she even called me. She called to know if I had the equipment to be used for the assignment. That was my last encounter with her, it was on Wednesday, she called me in the morning.
“Taiwo was a very quiet person, disciplined and principled. She was not a trouble maker. She would come to the class and greet everybody. She was very brilliant. When the lecturer was dictating, it was her note people used to borrow to fill in the gaps.
“My friend was very caring, very nice. Because we were in the same group for the pro ITP, we went to Niger State together. We used to do things together. We cooked together. We would go to market, lectures and everything like that together. She was ready to assist and help any time.”
