By Ademola Ade
A final-year student of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Oluwole Oluwasegun, has died in an incident suspected to be suicide at his off-campus residence in Osun State.
Oluwasegun, a student of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, reportedly died on Tuesday afternoon at his residence around the Damico area of Ooni Layout, Ile-Ife.
The university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, confirmed the incident in a statement on Wednesday, saying the institution immediately contacted the police after receiving information about the student’s death.
According to him, the university’s Quick Response and Security, QRS, team proceeded to the location, where officers from the ‘A’ Division, Moore, Ile-Ife, joined the university security personnel.
He said the student was subsequently taken to the university’s Health Centre, where a medical doctor certified him dead.
Olarewaju said the circumstances surrounding the death had raised concerns within the university community, prompting the institution to hand relevant information and items recovered from the scene to the police for investigation.
He said the police had commenced investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
“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,” he said.
The institution also notified the appropriate student affairs authorities for necessary follow-up, particularly regarding the welfare and support of students affected by the incident.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Simeon Bamire, expressed condolences to the deceased’s family, friends, classmates and colleagues.
The university management also urged students experiencing severe emotional distress, relationship difficulties, financial pressures or other personal challenges to seek help promptly from trusted persons and appropriate university support structures.
Bamire reaffirmed the university’s commitment to the welfare of staff and students, stressing that no student should feel compelled to confront overwhelming difficulties alone.
The police investigation is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
