Law Student’s Death After Hostel Lockout Sparks Fury, Probe at UNIZIK

The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, has confirmed the tragic passing of Miss Isabella Ajana, a first-year student of the Faculty of Law.

In response, the institution has launched a formal investigation into the circumstances that led to her death.

Isabella reportedly died on Friday, July 4, 2025, after being admitted at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital earlier that week.

Her medical crisis was linked to an incident that began on Friday, June 27, 2025, when she and her roommates were accidentally locked out of their room at Emalda Hostel, a privately owned student residence located near the university campus. They had mistakenly left their room key inside.

According to accounts from hostel residents, efforts to obtain a spare key were immediately initiated but proved futile. The key custodian, who was said to be out of the state at the time, could not provide access until the following Monday, June 30.

One of Isabella’s hostel mates, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, revealed that by Sunday night, her condition had begun to worsen drastically.

Isabella, who was known to suffer from Type 1 Diabetes, had her insulin and essential medications locked inside the room. As the situation escalated, her health rapidly declined due to the lack of access to her treatment.

Although her condition was managed overnight to some extent, it was not until Monday morning that access was finally gained to the locked room and her insulin was retrieved. Unfortunately, even after administering the medication, her condition did not stabilize.

She was immediately taken to the UNIZIK Medical Centre, but reports indicate that the facility lacked the capacity to manage her critical condition and promptly referred her to the teaching hospital, where she was admitted and placed under medical care.

For a time, there were encouraging signs of recovery. Sources say she showed notable improvement by Thursday, July 3. However, the following day, she sadly passed away.

Reports further suggest that Isabella’s death was initially kept confidential at the request of a family member. It was not until Tuesday, July 8, that her mother personally informed one of her daughter’s close friends about the incident.

The shocking loss comes just days after the university also recorded the sudden death of another student, a 300-level Microbiology undergraduate named Tochi, who reportedly slumped and died while playing football.

The death of Isabella has sparked widespread sorrow and outrage across the university community. While many students mourn her loss, others are calling for justice and accountability, particularly in relation to the role of the hostel management in the unfortunate episode.

Some students have accused the management of Emalda Hostel of demanding the sum of N40,000 before releasing the spare key — a claim that has further fueled public anger. However, the university administration has firmly denied those allegations.

Addressing the matter in a press statement released on Thursday, the Acting Director of Information, Public Relations and Protocol at UNIZIK, Mr. Njelita Louis, confirmed the incident and assured the public that the university is thoroughly investigating the case.

His statement read in part: “The attention of the management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has been drawn to the distressing incident involving Miss Isabella Ajana, a 100-level student in the Faculty of Law.

It’s pertinent to inform all concerned at this moment and to assure the university community and the public that the university is actively working to get to the root of this unfortunate situation.

We understand the anxiety and uncertainty this has caused, and our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our students. The management acknowledges the issues at hand with deep concern and is leaving no stone unturned in taking immediate steps to address them.”



Mr. Louis further confirmed that the school is not only investigating the death itself, but is also scrutinizing the operations, management practices, and student welfare provisions at Emalda Hostel.

“Currently, there is an ongoing investigation into the circumstances that led to the demise of our dear student. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka is committed to transparency in this investigation and will keep the university community and the public informed and properly updated on the progress and outcome as soon as possible.

In the meantime, we urge everyone to remain calm and avoid any actions likely to cause a breach of peace. The university management assures all staff, students and the general public of the university’s determination to sustain the cordial relations in the university.”



The university has since promised to take decisive actions based on the outcome of the investigation and reiterated its commitment to student safety and welfare.