A student of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, identified simply as Ayo, has reportedly been found dead inside an abandoned well located near the institution’s hostel area.
According to reports circulating online, the student allegedly left his room around 5 a.m. on May 18 without his phone before he was later discovered lifeless in the unused well close to the student residence area.
Sources familiar with the incident claimed that the deceased had been battling emotional and mental health challenges for some time. A relative who reacted to the tragic development alleged that Ayo had been dealing with depression linked to family-related issues, including an alleged strained relationship with his father.
Friends and acquaintances described him as calm, friendly and easygoing, noting that he interacted freely with people around him. Some students also recalled that he occasionally visited nearby lodges to charge his phone or borrow cooking gas.
The incident has triggered emotional reactions on social media, with many Nigerians expressing sadness over the development while calling for increased mental health awareness and stronger support systems for students and young people.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to officially confirm the exact cause of death, while investigations into the incident were said to be ongoing.
The development has once again brought conversations around mental health struggles among youths to the forefront, with renewed calls for schools, families and communities to prioritise emotional and psychological support for vulnerable individuals.