The authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State have closed down the institution until further notice.
This followed students’ protest over the death of their colleague and need to forestall break down of law and order.
This was contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, on Friday in Ile-Ife.
In view of the action, all students had been directed to vacate their halls of residence and campus latest by 12noon on Saturday (today).
Olanrewaju had on Friday issued a press release which stated that on September 28, 2021, Aishat Adesina, a 24-year old female 400 Level student of the Department of Foreign Languages, died.
The release said the deceased had reported to the university’s Health Centre with signs and symptoms of a severe infection.
Adesina 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 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 sympathises with the parents, friends, colleagues and the entire students of the University on this sad 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.
The 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.
It further stated that students engaging in other acts that were detrimental to their health and the safety of the generality of the people was opposed by the school authorities.