In a deeply unsettling development from Ondo State, the police have taken into custody two students of Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA) following serious allegations of conspiracy and rape involving a 20-year-old female student. According to the Ondo State Police Command, the incident underscores how trust among friends especially long-time ones can be manipulated in horrifying ways, and highlights glaring vulnerabilities in campus life.
According to the police, the victim was invited to the home of a close friend, identified as “Queen Sodo,” a 19-year-old student at the same institution. Their friendship, the police say, dates back to their secondary school days and continued into their university years — a bond that, tragically, appears to have been weaponized. Believing she was in a safe space, the victim accepted a drink offered by her friend. However, what she took was allegedly laced with a drug, as revealed by preliminary police investigations, causing her to lose consciousness.
What followed, according to the authorities, was a carefully orchestrated assault. As the victim lay incapacitated, the friend reportedly stepped out of the room, summoned a male accomplice, and “kept watch” while the crime was committed. The level of premeditation suggested by this account paints a deeply chilling picture: this was not a sudden lapse in judgment but a planned conspiracy.
A neighbor reportedly raised the alarm due to strange, inconsistent noises coming from the property. Upon investigation, this neighbor discovered the victim naked and unconscious with one of the suspects. She was immediately rushed to a hospital, and later referred to a specialist facility, where she is currently undergoing treatment and recuperation.
Authorities confirm that both suspects have admitted their involvement. Crucially, the police say they have recovered the bottle in which the allegedly drugged drink was served — a piece of physical evidence identified by both the victim and the suspects as central to the crime. This, along with the confessions, strengthens the case against them.
The police have indicated that the case will be handed over to the Gender Desk Office in Akure for a more sensitive handling of subsequent investigation and prosecution. This move suggests recognition that the nature of the crime demands privacy, expertise, and a gender-informed approach.
Beyond the immediate legal fallout, this case raises serious and uncomfortable questions. How deep can betrayal go when a trusted friend becomes a perpetrator? What does “consent” mean when drugs are involved, rendering a person powerless? And how safe can a university student truly be in private social settings?
Experts in gender-based violence stress that for the prosecution to succeed, key elements will include toxicological analysis of the drink, corroborating eyewitness testimonies (such as that of the neighbor), and a rigorous chain of custody for the recovered evidence. For the victim, proper medical and psychological support is not just a right — it is essential for her healing and for preserving any forensic evidence. As for the university itself, this incident shines a harsh light on the gaps in student welfare structures: the need for strong consent education, bystander intervention programs, and easily accessible reporting mechanisms.
The broader public reaction has been one of anger, sadness, and alarm. Students, parents, and civil society activists are calling on AAUA to review its policies and to take proactive steps to prevent such situations. Many are demanding that the university strengthen its safety nets, including training students on consent, substance abuse risks, and peer exploitation.
As the investigation proceeds, the stakes are high. A successful prosecution could help set a precedent for more rigorous handling of campus sexual violence in Nigeria, especially in cases involving substances. More importantly, justice for the victim is not just about accountability — it is about restoring her dignity, affirming her voice, and sending a powerful message that abuse, even under the guise of friendship, will not be tolerated.
