The academic community of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, has been thrown into deep mourning following the tragic discovery of two missing students who were found dead over the weekend.
The deceased students — Andrel Eloho Okah, from the Department of History and International Studies, and John Friday Abba, of the Department of Economics in the Faculty of Agriculture — had been declared missing for three weeks before their lifeless bodies were discovered in a bush near the Akoko boundary between Ondo and Ekiti states.
According to sources within the institution, concerns over their safety began when the students failed to show up for lectures or respond to calls and messages. Coursemates, after several unsuccessful attempts to contact them, raised the alarm, prompting a formal report to security agencies.
A security operative, speaking anonymously, confirmed that both students had likely been abducted before being brutally murdered. “Preliminary findings indicate abduction and murder. Our men have been deployed to recover the remains from the forest area,” the officer stated.
The tragic incident has cast a heavy shadow over the university. Students described the campus atmosphere as sombre and filled with grief. “There’s a dark cloud over the school. Everyone is shocked. It’s heartbreaking and terrifying,” said a student who requested anonymity.
As of press time, the Ondo State Police Command has not released an official statement. However, the spokesperson, SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, confirmed that investigations are underway and pledged to provide more information as facts emerge.
The incident has once again sparked urgent calls for improved student safety, security around campuses, and swift justice for those responsible.
Meanwhile, condolences continue to pour in from students, lecturers, and members of the university management. Vigils and prayer sessions are reportedly being held by various student groups in memory of the slain undergraduates.
The University is yet to issue an official statement, but students and parents are urging authorities not only to uncover the truth behind the killings but also to take concrete action to ensure such a tragedy never repeats.