Anger as UNIZIK undergraduate dies after hostel lockout crisis

UNIZIK gate

The management of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, have confirmed the death of Miss Isabella Ajana, a 100-level student in the Faculty of Law and has launched investigation into the circumstances leading to the incident.

This is barely four days after a 300-level student of the Department of Microbiology at the institution, identified as Tochi, slumped and died while playing football.

It was gathered that Isabella passed away on Friday, July 4, after being admitted at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital on Monday, June 30, 2025.

A detailed account of the events leading to her demise revealed that the unfortunate incident leading to her death began on Friday, June 27, when the deceased and her roommates were locked out of their room at Emalda Hostel after mistakenly leaving their key inside.

According to sources within the hostel, immediate efforts were made to reach hostel authorities for access to the spare key, but were unsuccessful, adding that the key custodian, we learned, was out of the state and could not provide access until Monday morning.

One of the sources within the hostel who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “The unfortunate event began on Friday night, June 27, when the deceased and her roommates were locked out of their room at Emalda Hostel after mistakenly leaving their key inside.

“Immediate efforts were made to reach hostel authorities for access to the spare key, but were unsuccessful. It was discovered that the key custodian was out of the state and could not provide access until Monday morning.

“However, by Sunday night, the situation took a dangerous turn. As a Type 1 Diabetes patient, the deceased’s insulin and essential medication were locked in her room. Her condition deteriorated rapidly.

“Though managed overnight, the spare key was finally retrieved by Monday morning, granting access to her medication. Unfortunately, efforts to stabilise her condition proved ineffective, even after the insulin was administered.