The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has issued a public alert regarding the unexplained disappearance of one of its female students, sparking concern across the campus community and beyond.
The student, identified as Dorcas Oseghale, a dedicated undergraduate in the Department of Chemistry, has been missing for four days.
According to the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, Dorcas was last seen on the evening of Tuesday, August 6, 2025, around 8:00 PM.
On that day, she reportedly left her residence at Adesanmi House, located along Ibadan Road within the Ile-Ife campus area, to purchase food at a location near the students’ village on the Ede Road axis of the university. She never returned.
Her absence quickly raised alarm. Dorcas’s roommate, identified as Akinkuade Omobolanle Beatrice from the Department of Agricultural Extension, became increasingly worried when Dorcas did not come back at the expected time. Efforts to contact her on both of her mobile lines proved futile as the phone lines were unreachable, intensifying the concern.
The situation escalated the following day, August 7, when a message about Dorcas’s disappearance began to circulate on a popular student social media platform at approximately 3:00 PM.
The university’s security unit promptly intercepted this report and started monitoring the situation closely. Later that evening, at about 6:10 PM, a group of students, including Akinkuade, approached the security unit to formally report Dorcas as missing, providing initial details and expressing their urgent desire to find her.
Given the gravity and complexity of the case, and acknowledging limitations in the security unit’s human and material resources, the management quickly took decisive action.
Three personnel from the university’s security team were assigned to lead a joint search operation alongside the students. The team was instructed to conduct preliminary investigations and report their findings to the Nigerian Police Force, which has superior manpower, technical expertise, and investigative resources.
The police have since taken over the case, promising a thorough investigation to uncover the circumstances of Dorcas’s sudden disappearance.
In response to the incident, the Vice Chancellor of OAU, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, expressed profound appreciation for the prompt and responsible actions of the students, who he described as exemplifying the spirit of solidarity and communal care within the university. He applauded their attentiveness and willingness to report the matter swiftly to the appropriate authorities.
Professor Bamire also appealed to law enforcement and relevant security agencies, urging them to exhaust every possible avenue to locate Dorcas safely and swiftly. He emphasized the university’s commitment to cooperating fully with security agencies to bring this matter to a resolution.
Moreover, the Vice Chancellor made a heartfelt plea to members of the public and anyone who may have information that could assist in tracing Dorcas Oseghale. He encouraged them to come forward without delay, directing them to report to the nearest police station or the security unit of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
The university community and concerned individuals await further updates as the investigation progresses, hopeful for a safe return of their missing student.