The authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile Ife, have closed down the institution until further notice.
The action was taken following students’ protest over the death of their colleague, and in its bid to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
The announcement is contained in a release issued by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Abiodun Olarewaju.
In view of the action, all students have been directed to vacate their halls of residence and the campus, latest by 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 2, 2021.
Olanrewaju had on Friday issued a press release which stated that on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, one Aishat Adesina, a 24-year old female, Part 4 student of the Department of Foreign Languages, had died.
The release said that the deceased had reported to the university’s Health Centre with signs and symptoms of a severe infection.
She was promptly treated with some prescribed drugs and asked to report back as an out-patient.
She reported back to the Health Centre in the morning of Thursday, September 30, 2021.
Upon examination, the release said, she was referred to the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, for further management where she regrettably died on the same day.
Olarewaju stated that the management understood the grief resulting from this untimely death within the community and sympathised with the parents, friends, colleagues and the entire students of the university on the loss, and prayed for the repose of her soul.
In the meantime, the university management has put in place a machinery to unravel the circumstances surrounding the immediate and remote cause(s) of the students’ protests.
Consequently, the swearing-in of the newly elected Students’ Union officials has been put on hold, pending a review of the situation, the release said.
Management also condemned 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 to the school.
Source: NAN
