Ololade Adeyanju/
The authorities of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) has said that a female student of the institution who was brutalised by six of her mates is now in stable condition.
A video of the incident emerged on the internet on Saturday and went viral.
FUTA’s Deputy Director, Corporate Communications, Adegbenro Adebanjo, disclosed that the year one Ecotourism and Wildlife Management student, identified simply as Bolu, was out of danger and had been discharged from the hospital.
In an interview monitored on TVC breakfast programme, Your View, this morning, Adebanjo said the victim was currently undergoing counselling.
He also disclosed that the students who allegedly committed the act would remain on indefinite suspension from all academic-related activities until the panel set up to investigate the incident concludes its work.
Asked about the punishment the alleged culprits will likely get, Adebanjo said: “It is the panel that will recommend the appropriate punishment to the authorities after its investigation. But whatever punishment they get will be in line with the school’s code of conduct.
“All fresh students undergo an induction process during which they are sensitised about the school’s code of conduct as as well as the punishment for any breach. All these are also contained in the handbook given to all students.
“For now, all the students identified in the video are on indefinite suspension until the level of culpability of each individual is established. They are not allowed to take part in the ongoing second semester examination,” he further explained.
On the possibility of handing over the culprits to the police for criminal prosecution, Adebanjo said that would depend on the recommendation of the school’s legal department after the panel had submitted its report.
The video shows the six students, comprising one male and five females, assaulting the victim in her room.
The victim could be heard in the video shouting for help as she was being viciously battered by her assailants.
One of the assailants was also shown hitting the victim repeatedly on the head with what looks like a mopping stick.
Reports say the victim was accused of gossiping about one of her assailants and also referring to her as a ‘runs girl’, a term used for prostitutes.
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