A 400-level student of the Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State, Oluwaseyi Adebayo has been confirmed dead after falling into a fishpond while hiking with his colleagues.
It was gathered that Adebayo, of the Department of Animal Production at the University had gone bike hiking with some of his colleagues on August 10 when he slipped from a hilltop and fell into a fish pond where he died.
According to reports, the locals in the area refused to release the corpse of the student to the authorities of the university until some rites were performed to prevent a similar occurrence from happening to his seven other colleagues.
The school authority was said to have refused to go along with the request to perform the ritual until some concerned people saved the situation by paying the required amount and providing a white ram for the sacrifice.
Reports say the University’s spokesperson, Lydia Legbo, denied knowledge of the incident, saying the university was not aware of the development.
Legbo said: “The University is not aware of any such incident and cannot comment on it.
Meanwhile, the Student Union Government, SUG, of the university, confirmed the incident in a statement titled “Condolence Message” and signed by its Public Relations Officer, Moshood Olamide.
The SUG body expressed regret and prayed with the bereaved family.
The statement reads: “We regret to announce the Passing of Oluwaseyi David, a 400 Level Student from the Department of Animal Production (SAAT), who died earlier today during a hiking event with his level mates near the Talba Dam in GK Off-campus.
”Our Prayers and thoughts are with the bereaved. We pray God to grant them the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss and may the gentle soul of Oluwaseyi David rest in perfect peace.
“The University Management has warned Students to avoid any form of Outdoor Events near waterways and also swimming in water bodies of undefined depth.”
When the spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, was contacted on Friday, he said the matter was not reported to the Police.
