Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has lost a part two student of the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, Miss Heritage Ayomikun Ajibola.

Ajibola died after she fell into an improperly kept soakaway in BVER, one of the private hostels in the Students Village.

Ogunperi Taofeek, the students' union spokesperson told newsmen that Miss Ajibola "was trying to spread her clothes on the rope on Wednesday afternoon when she slipped and fell into the soakaway through an open part that was only covered with planks."

He said one of her roommates with whom she was washing at the BVER hostel, a private hostel, raised the alarm and the university management mobilised the rescue team.

According to Mr Taofeek, the rescue effort took up to an hour, and the student was confirmed dead at the accident and emergency unit of OAU Teaching Hospital where she was immediately rushed to at about 5 p.m after she was removed from the soakaway.

A statement released by the students' union noted that "Heritage's death was avoidable if the soakaway system was properly constructed and covered, it is saddening that this has happened despite the huge amounts of money paid by students for rent."

Mr Taofeek said the fact that someone could slip to a sewage system that was supposed to be constructed well means that "we need to question those in charge of those hostels and make sure they provide the right answers".

Miss Ajibola's death tragic - University Management

The university management, while confirming Miss Ajibola's death, said as soon as it got the information the emergency response team including its firefighters and those from the Osun State Government, among others, were mobilised to the scene.

The university's public relations officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, said the student was confirmed dead at the institution's teaching hospital, where she was rushed to after a joint effort to retrieve her from the soakaway by the firefighters.

“Accordingly, she was immediately taken to the OAU Teaching Hospital, where she was certified dead.”

He said that the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, led his management team to the scene, and sympathised with the students and commiserated with the parents of the deceased.

“Prof Ogunbodede, who described the incidence as tragic and unacceptable, promised to critically look into the circumstances that led to the student’s death and mete out appropriate sanctions against those involved or whoever is found culpable.

“The vice chancellor, therefore, appealed to the students to remain calm and be law abiding as the police, who have been briefed, are also investigating,” Olarewaju said in the statement.