A dark cloud hangs over the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) community following the tragic death of a student on Saturday at the university’s Center for Distance Learning (CDL), Moro off-campus hostel.
The incident occurred during what began as a routine football game among students. According to eyewitnesses, the match took a tragic turn when the ball was accidentally kicked over the fence into a neighboring compound. In a bid to retrieve it, one of the students volunteered to scale the fence and recover the ball. After successfully entering the compound and throwing the ball back to his teammates, the student attempted to climb back over the fence to rejoin the game.
Unbeknownst to him, the fence had a live wire draped over it—dislodged during Friday’s heavy rainfall and left unattended due to negligence. As the student climbed the fence, he stepped on the live wire and was electrocuted instantly.
At first, his friends waited, puzzled by the delay in his return. Alarmed by his prolonged absence, they moved closer and saw him trembling atop the fence. In a desperate bid to save him, they used a stick to detach the wire from his body and rushed him to nearby hospitals in CDL and Ipetumodu. Unfortunately, he was pronounced Brought In Dead (B.I.D.) upon arrival.
The tragic news has thrown the student community into mourning. His identity has been withheld pending formal communication with his family, who have since been informed of the heartbreaking loss.
“This is an unimaginable tragedy. A young life full of promise has been cut short due to avoidable negligence,” said a grieving student leader at the scene.
The management of OAU and the CDL campus are yet to release an official statement, but students and staff alike are calling for an urgent investigation and improved safety measures around the hostel and recreational areas.
As the OAU community mourns this painful loss, prayers go out for the repose of the departed soul and for strength for the bereaved family and friends.
May his soul rest in peace.
