Breaking: OAU Closed Down Indefinitely Following Students' Protests Of Finalist Death

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has ordered an indefinite closure of the institution following series of students protests that rocked the University campus over the death of their colleague.

The University Campus had on Thursday evening thrown into mourning following the news of the death of a final year student of the institution's department of Foreign Languages identified as Adesina Omowumi Aishat.

The deceased, a 24-year old female student was said to have died after experiencing complications from an undisclosed ailment.

STUDENTS ALLEGE NEGLIGENCE OF THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTRE WORKERS AS CAUSE OF DEATH

Meanwhile, the students of the institution on Friday took out to protest the death of their colleague which they blamed on the unprofessional conduct of the University's Health Centre Workers.

In a statement by the spokesperson of the students, the Great Ife Students' Union Public Relations Officer-elect, Ogunperi Taofeek Olalekan(Tao), the students alleged that the negligence on the part of the staff if the University Health Centre led to to the death of the student. 

“Adesina Aishat, a 400 level student at the Department of Foreign Languages, just joined the list of many students who have lost their lives due to “negligence” at the Health Centre of the University. It saddens our heart that a member of our Union has to be returned home as a corpse when her family expects her to be a graduate with prospects.

“We send our condolences to the family of the deceased. But while we mourn Aishat, we cannot lose sight of the circumstances that led to her death, especially the role of the University Health Center. Aishat’s death is not the first to happen due to negligence of duties by the workers at the Health Center. It is only one out of many. Enough is enough", the statement read in part.

The students body in the statement went further calling on the University management to investigate the death of the student and bring any staff found wanted to book.

“We call on the University Management to investigate this death and punish all health workers who failed in performing their duties when Aishat needed attendance which they failed to give but only transferred her in her last moments to Seventh Day Hospital where she eventually died. Without a proper and quick investigation (one which must actively involve and be communicated to students) and punishment meted, the University Management will be putting the lives of students in danger. We cannot let our lives become toys. We will have to protest this, as we cannot afford to keep losing our lives like fowls.

“As we await the University’s reactions and actions to this sad occurrence, we urge all Union members to see this incident not as a loss to the family of Aishat, her class, department or faculty, but as a loss to all students of the University. We solicit your support as we demand justice to be done in memory of Aishat and many others like her. It was Aishat today, it could be anyone tomorrow. We cannot wait until another sad occurrence like this happens. Our lives matter!”, he stated.

UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT CALLS FOR CALM

Meanwhile, the University management had earlier on Friday afternoon reacted to the incident and appealed to the students to keep calm.

In a statement by the University's Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, the University however debunked the alleged poor medical attention from the institution' health centre, maintaining that the deceased was given the necessary treatment but had to be referred to the another health facility in the town when they could no longer manage it.

"The management of the University regrets to announce the death of one of our students, ADESINA, Omowumi Aisat, a 24 - year old, female student of the Department of Foreign Languages. The student reported to the University's Health Centre on Tuesday, 28th September, 2021 with signs and symptoms of a severe infection.  She was promptly treated, given some prescribed drugs and asked to report back as an out patient.

"Miss Adesina reported back to the Health Centre in the morning of Thursday, 30th September, 2021. Upon examination, she was referred to the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital for further management where she regrettably died. 

"The management sympatises with the parents, friends, colleagues and the entire students of the University on this sad loss, and pray for the repose of her soul.

"The management will like to appeal to all students of the students of the University to remain calm and kindly refrain from any act that can jeopardise the peace on campus and truncate the on-going Rain Semester examinations", the statement read.

CLOSURE OF THE UNIVERSITY

Few hours later after its earlier release, the University management announced the closure of the institution until further notice due to what it described as "continuous and uncontrolled protests by the students".

The University in the statement maintained that the closure was in a move to forestall further breakdown of law and other while students while students have been asked to vacate their Halls of residence not later than 12:00 noon on Saturday 2nd of October.

The statement further added that the swearing-in of the newly elected Students' Union leaders have been put on hold pending a review of the situation, maintaining that the management is taking steps to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of the unfortunate situation.

"The management understands the grief resulting from this untimely death within the community and sympathises with the parents, friends, colleagues and the entire students of the University on this sad loss, and prays for the repose of her soul. 

"However, Management condemns in strong terms the continuous and uncontrolled protests by the students culminating in unbridled  brigandage, blocking the Ife/Ibadan and Ife/Ede highways and other adjoining roads that could be used as alternative routes, and engaging in other acts that are detrimental to their health and the safety of  the generality of the people. 

"Therefore, having exhausted all necessary avenues to call the students to order and allow normalcy to return to the Campus and its environs, the authorities of  Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, have accordingly closed down  the institution until further notice. This is to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

"In view of this, all students are hereby directed to vacate their halls of residence and the Campus latest by 12:00 noon on Saturday, 2nd October, 2021.

"Consequently, the swearing-in of the newly elected Students’ Union officials has been put on hold, pending a review of the situation.

"In the meantime, the University management has put in place machinery to unravel the circumstances surrounding the immediate and remote cause", the statement read.