Students of Ladoke Akinola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso on Friday shut gates of the institution in protest over the death of a final-year student, Asefon Nifemi Benard.
The deceased, a graduating student of the Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, it was gathered, died after falling into a soak-away in his hostel.
The university management confirmed the sad incident in a statement by the institution’s registrar, Dr. Kayode Ogunleye on Friday.
The management, while appealing to the protesting students for calm, noted Nifemi died off-campus on Thursday.
The registrar in the statement said, “In sympathy with the student, friends and family, the university management hereby declared today Friday April 23, 2021 as lecture free-day, while any lectures or tests that might have been conducted earlier today will be declared null and void.
“Management further appeals to students not to take laws into their hands. Appropriate steps will be taken to further get the facts surrounding the death of the students.
“Once again, management commiserates with the students, family and friends of the deceased.
‘’Meanwhile, the University management has taken steps to take care of the burial of the deceased and convey his corpse to the family. God will give the university the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
Students alleged that late Nifemi, after falling into the soakaway pit, allegedly gave up the ghost on Thursday evening as a result of delay by staff of the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital to attend to him.