A 500-level student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Oluwole Oluwaseun, has reportedly committed suicide in a private apartment in the Damico area of Ooni Layout, Ile-Ife.
The incident occurred on Tuesday and has since attracted the attention of the university authorities and the Nigeria Police, who have commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
The university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, saying the institution received information about an emergency involving the student at about 1:30pm.
According to him, the university’s security team immediately proceeded to the location after receiving the information, while the police were also contacted.
Olarewaju said officers from the ‘A’ Division, Moore, Ile-Ife, joined the university security personnel at the scene, after which the student was taken to the university health centre.
He said a medical doctor subsequently certified the student dead.
“The university is deeply concerned by the circumstances surrounding the death and has handed relevant information and items recovered from the scene to the police for further investigation,” the statement said.
The university urged members of its community to refrain from spreading unverified information or speculating on the circumstances surrounding the death while the police investigation continues.
Speaking on the incident, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed that preliminary findings indicated that the student died by suicide.
“From the reports available to us, it is a case of suicide. He is a 500-level student. It was a case of suicide, he hanged himself,” Ojelabi told TheCable.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Simeon Bamire, expressed condolences to the deceased’s family, friends, classmates and colleagues.
Bamire also expressed concern about the emotional impact of the incident on members of the university community, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to the welfare of its students and staff.
He urged students facing severe emotional distress, relationship difficulties, financial pressures or other personal challenges to seek assistance from trusted persons and appropriate support structures.
“No student should feel that he or she has to confront overwhelming difficulties alone,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
