On Saturday, November 23, 2024, master’s students from the Criminology and Security Studies program at Lagos State University (LASU) held their first-ever practical session on forensic entomology, shedding light on this specialized field of forensic science.
The session, titled “Forensic Entomology: Process, Importance, and Uses,” took place in the Faculty of Social Sciences’ Psychology Laboratory on LASU’s main campus in Ojo, Lagos.
Guiding the session was Professor Adedeji Oyenuga, a renowned expert in criminology, who emphasized the importance of forensic science as the practical cornerstone of criminal investigation.
“Forensic science employs three scientific T’s: Theory, Technology, and Technician,” he remarked in his opening address. He explained that forensic science splits into two main fields—pathology and criminalistics—with each playing a unique role in evidence gathering and crime-solving. Pathology’s journey in criminal investigation, according to Oyenuga, began with the coroner and has evolved to include medical examiners and toxicologists, while criminalistics focuses on analyzing physical evidence, commonly through police crime labs.
Professor Oyenuga highlighted the three critical roles of forensic science in criminal justice: collecting and preserving evidence, analyzing it through scientific methods, and providing expert testimony in courtrooms.
“Forensic science helps in linking suspect, crime, and evidence in order to unravel crime and submit substantial evidence for the processing of the crime,” he noted, underscoring the importance of an evidence-based approach to solving cases.
The highlight of the session was a real-world crime scene simulation in the Lagos State University Zoological Garden.
Forensic entomology experts Dr. Azeezat Alafia of LASU and visiting South African scholar Dr. Adeyemi Adetimehin led students in examining two decomposing pigs—one that had died naturally and the other that was shot—to study the insects attracted to the remains. Students observed various insects, including maggots, blow flies, and beetles, as they carefully collected samples to estimate the postmortem interval. The exercise provided a unique perspective on how insect evidence can be pivotal in determining the timeline of death in criminal investigations.
Several distinguished academics attended the event, including Professor Olanrewaju Ajiboye, Sub-Dean of the Postgraduate School; Dr. Oluranti Samuel, Head of the Department of Sociology; Professor Jubril Jawando; and Dr. Kafayat Ajelara from the Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, along with other faculty members. Their presence underscored the university’s commitment to advancing practical forensic science education and research at LASU.
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