JULY 10,1999: THE OAU MASSACRE

You’ve probably been seeing flyers flying around with “July 10, 1999” on campus, and you’re wondering what exactly happened. Well, sit tight and fasten your seatbelts because you’re in for a ride.

George Iwilade (Afrika)

In the late 1990s, OAU was gripped by a resurgence of secret‐society violence. The Black Axe confraternity in particular had grown bold, clashing repeatedly with rival groups and student authorities. Earlier in 1999, members of the Students’ Union, under the leadership of President Lanre Adeleke (“Legacy”) and the Secretary‐General George Akinyemi Iwilade (“Afrika”), had publicly arrested and handed over arrested cultists to campus security. The members of the Black Axe confraternity were not exactly thrilled about this because it was a humiliation, and they planned to avenge.

In the days leading up to July 10, 1999, campus residents noted that every streetlight on the road from road one (campus gate) through to the academic area and down to Awolowo hall stopped working. Simultaneously, the university bursar withdrew ₦350,000 “for security needs,” which cult members later admitted they received. Rumors circulated that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Wale Omole, was either aware and complicit on their plans, or he was just deliberately negligent.

Prof Wale Omole

You might want to brace yourself for this next part because it gets really sad, ugly and gruesome.

At approximately 4:30 AM on July 10, 40 armed members of the Black Axe drove into campus, parked near the Tennis Courts, and crept along a bush path into Awolowo hall. They had their faces covered with masks, and carried shotguns, axes and cutlasses. It is reported that they shouted “Legacy, come out!”. Legacy, as mentioned above was the SUG president.

In no particular order, they shot and injured different innocent students who were in their rooms in the hostel. In all, five students were killed and eleven others wounded as panicking students stampeded from the dining hall and hostel corridors. The students that were killed were:

1.  Efe Ekede, a Part 2 Psychology student.

2. Charles Ita, a Part 2 Law student.

3. Yemi Ajiteru, a Part 2 Religious Studies student.

4. George “Afrika” Iwilade (SUG Secretary‐General, 400-Level Law student). He was not only shot through the head, his skull was also smashed with an axe to ensure he wouldn’t survive.

5. Eviano Ekelemu, a 400-Level Medical student, was found with fatal gunshot wounds to the groin and thigh and died soon after arrival at the clinic.

6. Godfrey Ekpede, a Part 2 student was also found dead from a gunshot wound.

7. Babatunde Oke, a 100-Level Philosophy student was shot in the abdomen. He was still alive and was rushed to the clinic, where he later bled to death on the operating table. He was Afrika’s roommate.

Many students were also left injured. After the massacre which sparked a national outrage, the then VC, Prof. Omole was relieved of duty, and was replaced by Prof. Roger Makanjuola, who formally reported to the police. To date, no cultist has been convicted for the atrocity.

Prof Roger Makanjuola

There you have it.

The dreadful story behind the date- July 10, 1999. Now, every July, the memory of “Afrika” and the other students who died are honored and it also serves as a reminder on how cultism is frowned upon in OAU from then till date.