The caretaker of a ‘First Twin Villa’ hostel in Ekosodin, Benin City, Edo state, has been dragged out by a student of University of Benin over a case of theft.
The victim, a 200-level student of Biochemistry, who begged for her identity to remain anonymous claimed she was on her way to school on Tuesday morning when the caretaker of her hostel, identified as Mr Okoro M. Roland forcefully dragged her phone from her and took possession of it.
The case was reported to student activist and representative, Obinna Ezechukwu, who pleaded with Mr. Roland to release the phone to the lady but he refused. The caretaker was then summoned by the Vigilante of Ekosodin to explain his actions.
Upon arrival at the Vigilante office, the caretaker in his defence, claimed that the lady’s rent expired on 14th of January, 2022. He also claimed that she moved out without telling him and she locked the door to the apart after packing out her belongings.
Upon further investigation, the student refuted that she still had her belongings inside the apartment and that was the reason why she locked it until she was able to move completely. She also stated that she had an accident on 14th of January, 2020 and she was hospitalised so there was no way she paid the rent on that day; insinuating that Mr. Okoro lied.
The lady added that she had gone to the apartment to open it and take her remaining belongings out in the evening after she got back from school. “I went to his office to inform him that the door was now open and also to request for my phone but he shoved me off and refused to release the phone to me”, she said.
Campus journalists who were at the scene, witnessed Mr. Roland insult and attempt to attack mediators who tried to help solve the dispute.
A certain Mr. Ibrahim and Mr. Zack Ogah were also present as witnesses and mediators at the scene where the student went to plead with Mr. Roland.
The Vigilante “Admin”, after listening to both parties, meticulously dissected the case, corrected the errors that the counterparties made, and asked the caretaker to release the phone as he had no right whatsoever to illegally take possession of the student’s property.
The aged caretaker adhered to the instructions given and apologised to those he hurt earlier. He handed the phone back to the student and the case died down.