Nigerian university seeks police intervention as student goes missing

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has appealed to the Osun State Police Command for assistance in finding a female undergraduate who has been missing for four days.

In a statement on Sunday, the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, identified the student as Dorcas Oseghale, from the Department of Chemistry, with matriculation number CHM/2021/165.

According to the statement, Dorcas was last seen on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, around 8:00 p.m. “Dorcas, a resident of Adesanmi House, Ibadan Road, Ile-Ife, had told her roommate she was going to buy food in front of the Students’ Village along Ede Road but did not return. Her roommate later tried to reach her on the phone, only to discover that both of her lines were unreachable.”

Olarewaju explained that at about 3:00 p.m. on August 7, the University Security Unit intercepted a missing person report circulating on a students’ social media platform and began monitoring related discussions.

“By 6:10 p.m. the same day, a group of Chemistry students, together with Dorcas’s roommate, Akinkuade Omobolanle Beatrice from the Department of Agricultural Extension, formally reported the matter at the University’s Security Unit,” he said.

Due to limited resources, three security personnel were assigned to collaborate with the students, while preliminary findings were forwarded to the Nigeria Police for further investigation. Olarewaju added that “the Nigerian Police have enough manpower with sound professional and technical expertise to unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the student.”

Vice-Chancellor Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire praised the swift action taken by the students, saying “their vigilance showed they were their brothers’ and sisters’ keeper.” He urged security agencies to “do all they could to find Dorcas” and appealed to anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact the nearest police station or the University Security Unit.

The university also assured it will maintain close collaboration with the police and other security agencies until the matter is resolved.