Controversy over OAU student’s suicide

The suicide of a 16-year-old student of Microbiology Department at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Miss Mercy Afolaranmi, has continued to generate ripples in the institution.
Afolaranmi, who was in 100-level, reportedly took rat poison on Thursday because of her poor grade in a compulsory course in Chemistry.
Our correspondent gathered that the deceased scored E grade in CHM 101, which is compulsory for every student in the Faculty of Science.
Some students said she first withdrew from her close friends before she eventually took her life.
One of the students, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that Afolaranmi became sad when she saw that her grade was poor.
She said, “She first became distressed because she got an E in CHM 101 and eventually committed suicide . We got a call that a student took poison and she was taken to a hospital. Those who took her to the hospital were told that she took rat poison mixed with a black substance.
“She died on Thursday before her parents arrived at the hospital. The death has thrown students in her department into mourning.”
But some students also said the female student did not kill herself because of the poor grade as being speculated by many of her colleagues.
One of the students, who identified himself as Feyi, said the incident should be properly investigated to know why she killed herself; “if she indeed killed herself.”
One of the workers at the OAU Health Centre, who also declined to be named, told our correspondent that the girl was not brought to the centre because she lived in the town and not on campus.
She said, “I am sure her death might have been prevented if she lived on campus because her colleagues would have seen her and discouraged her from killing herself.”
The Public Relations Officer of the OAU, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, confirmed the incident.
He, however, said the reason for the alleged suicide was not clear.
The PRO said, “We really don’t know what caused her death. There is this rumour that she committed suicide because of poor grade. She was a 100-level student. We don’t know what happened.
Efforts to speak to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, was unsuccessful.
The PPRO’s calls rang out and she had yet to respond to a text message sent to her phone.