Date: 2016-11-02

The management of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, has debunked claims of mysterious deaths of students of the institution.The university, according to Hajia Amidat Yusuf-Suleiman of its public relations unit, does not take the welfare, safety and security of its staff and students with levity.

"This is evident in the prevailing peace and tranquility on our campus and in the host community, she stressed. "Yusuf-Suleiman yesterday in Ilorin added: "Death is inevitable, as every soul shall return to its Creator at the appointed time by natural or accidental means. It is therefore, out of place to link the deaths of some of our students to mysterious circumstances or to create a wrong impression that the university is responsible for such incidents or that some fetish acts are at play."

According to her, one of those said have died mysteriously, was Linda Lilian Lawal, a 400 level student of the Department of Mass Communication.

"She died in her parents' quarters on Friday, October 14, 2016, of complications resulting from brain injury she sustained during a car accident about a year ago outside of the university environment. Linda was to have undergone brain surgery but for some reasons it could not be done and she several times suffered convulsion, a repeat of which claimed her life on October 14.

"Besides, a student was brought chronically ill to the university clinic on Sunday night, September 11, 2016. Even though he did not register with the clinic and was abandoned by his colleagues on getting to the health facility, it is against medical practice to abandon such a patient at that critical moment. So, our doctor and nurses tried all they could to save his life but when his condition got deteriorated, he was rushed to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), in a KWASU ambulance.

He was not left alone in the ambulance, as the doctor on call was there to give him the best attention before getting to the hospital. Despite the fact that the UITH was on strike at that time, the consultant doctor in charge of emergency section of the hospital was contacted by our medical officials and he came over to save the situation that night. However, in spite of all efforts by doctors, we eventually lost the boy.

But can such death be called "mysterious" as insinuated, particularly for a sickle cell patient?" The spokesperson said every student and staff of the university deserves best medical attention when the need arises. Hence, the university health services has been equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and qualified medical personnel at all levels.

She added: "The clinic provides round-the- clock services and enjoys sound working relationship with the State Specialist Hospital, Alagbado and the UITH. That is why our medical team usually wastes no time to refer critical cases to the two hospitals.

"Again, Provost of the Skyboss Security Services, a private security company engaged by the university, recently had an incident in the line of duty. He was rushed to the school clinic and our medical personnel referred him to the State Specialist Hospital, Alagbado, after trying their best to save his life. He was conveyed to the Special Hospital in our well-equipped ambulance supported by the medical personnel. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the hospital. But can this also be called mysterious, bearing in mind that death can come at anytime and under any circumstances? People die even in their sleep or for simply hurting a toe or even a finger."

The university also clarified the issue of a missing student. "The Dean Students Affairs of the University, Professor AbdulGaniyu Funsho Alabi, had made it abundantly clear that the female student did not report on campus after leaving her Lagos residence. Even at that, he stated that the university is working round the clock with security agencies to locate her whereabouts.