By Ahmed Ajikobi
The Management of University of Ilorin has kept mum over the death of a 400-level student of English Language of the institution identified as Elijah Jude Anuoluwapo, who has reportedly committed suicide in the early hours of Thursday.
When contacted on Saturday, the Director of Corporate Affairs of the institution told National Pilot on a telephone interview that he would get back to our reporter.
As at the time of filing the report, this medium is yet to receive any information concerning the death of the student.
Anuoluwapo reportedly took his own life by taking illicit drug substances.
It was gathered that the undergraduate died in the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), where he was rushed to by his colleagues for medical attention.
Sources have claimed that Anuoluwapo had on two occasions tried to commit suicide before the latest incident.
Another source explained that the deceased was frustrated by alleged rejection by his members of his immediate family after the reported death of his mother.
“His father had abandoned his mother since she was carrying Jude’s pregnancy which later led to his mother’s death out of depression.
“Jude was raised by his maternal grandmother who later died last year of cancer complications.”
According to the source, the development had become the factor that had given him severe depression, frustration and made him to attempt suicide twice before the last one that later claimed his life.
“Jude was a very brilliant student and even one of the very best with mastery of languages in the whole of the university campus.
“Many of us pleaded with him and even referred him to the school counselling unit after the second unsuccessful attempt which was about three weeks ago.
“It came to our surprise that he later proceeded with another attempt around 8:15pm Wednesday evening. We actually tried to save his life as usual, but to no avail as he finally gave up the ghost earlier Thursday in the hospital. If he didn’t die, he should have been one of the very best writers of the next generation,”
The spokesman of the State Police command, SP Ajayi Okasanmi also said that he was not aware of the incident.
