Minna, Niger State, August 23, 2024 – In a devastating incident, a student from the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna has lost his life after falling into a fishpond during a hiking excursion with his classmates.
The victim, 400-level Animal Production student Oluwaseyi Adebayo, was part of a group of students who had gone on a hiking trip on August 10th. Witnesses report that Adebayo slipped from a hilltop and tumbled into a nearby fishpond, where he tragically drowned.
Local residents in the area initially refused to release Adebayo’s body to the university authorities until certain traditional rituals were performed, reportedly to prevent a similar occurrence. The FUT administration initially refused to comply with these demands, but the issue was eventually resolved after intervention from concerned community members.
In a statement, the FUT Student Union Government expressed deep condolences over the tragic loss. “We regret to announce the passing of Oluwaseyi David, a 400-level student from the Department of Animal Production, who died during a hiking event with his classmates. Our prayers and thoughts are with the bereaved family,” the statement read.
The university management has warned students to avoid outdoor activities near water bodies in the wake of this incident. Meanwhile, the police say the matter was not reported to them, and they are not aware of the details surrounding Adebayo’s death.
This heartbreaking incident has left the FUT Minna community in mourning, and serves as a somber reminder of the importance of safety precautions during extracurricular activities. The university is expected to conduct a full investigation into the circumstances leading to this tragic loss of life.
