The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, has confirmed the tragic death of Miss Isabella Ajana, a 100-level student of the Faculty of Law.
To this end, the university authority has launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Isabella’s passing, which occurred on Friday, July 4, came just four days after the sudden death of a 300-level Microbiology student, Tochi, who collapsed while playing football.
The university community has since been plunged into mourning, with growing calls for accountability.
According to reports, the events leading to Isabella’s death began on Friday, June 27, when she and her roommates at Emalda Hostel, a privately managed off-campus facility, were locked out of their room after mistakenly leaving their key inside.
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Efforts to retrieve a spare key proved unsuccessful, as the key custodian was reportedly out of the state and unavailable until Monday morning.
Isabella, a known Type 1 Diabetes patient, had her insulin and essential medications locked inside the room, and her health began to deteriorate rapidly by Sunday.
Though the spare key was eventually retrieved on Monday, and her medication accessed, her condition had worsened significantly.
She was first taken to the UNIZIK Medical Centre, which referred her to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, where she was admitted and placed on treatment. While there were signs of recovery by Thursday, she tragically passed away the following day.
The incident has sparked outrage within the student body, particularly over allegations that hostel management demanded N40,000 before releasing the spare key. However, UNIZIK authorities have denied the claim.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Njelita Louis, confirmed the death and assured the public of a thorough and transparent investigation.
“The university is actively working to get to the root of this unfortunate situation,” the statement read.
“We understand the anxiety and uncertainty this has caused, and our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our students.”
The university further revealed that it is reviewing the operations, security, and management of Elmada Hostel, emphasizing that the facility is privately owned and operated, though located within the university’s vicinity.
The statement added, “In the meantime, we urge everyone to remain calm and avoid any actions likely to cause a breach of peace. The university management assures all staff, students, and the general public of its determination to uphold peace and justice.”
As investigations continue, the university has pledged to provide updates and ensure that any lapses that contributed to Isabella’s death are addressed.
