An incident occurred at the Alumni Hall of Residence on the night of April 16th. A heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds wreaked havoc on the facility, starting around 12:02 a.m. The incident left students traumatised and damaged their belongings.
According to eyewitnesses, the violent breeze and rain forced doors to open forcefully, and roofs were partially torn off, allowing water to flood into the rooms. Students were forced to hold onto furniture to steady themselves as the winds howled and rain poured in. The situation was chaotic, with students unable to move around or even close their eyes for a second.
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A student who requested anonymity due to security reasons, recounted her experience: ‘So the incident happened around 12:15 am last night, one of my roommates just came back from night reading, and immediately she opened the door, I was already awake. The breeze was so violent and heavy to the extent that it was shaking the door before it was forcefully opened.’
Approximately 20 rooms were affected, primarily in Block 1 and Block 3, while Block 2 and Block 4 were exempt from the damage. The roofing sheets of Blocks 1 and 3 were removed, and water got into some rooms. Students had to vacate their rooms, packing their belongings outside. Due to the damage, some students were forced to spend the night in the common room or even under the open roof.
In one incident, a mirror at Block 3 shattered, injuring a student, although the injury was not severe. The common room was also affected. The solar panel running the water tank was damaged, further complicating the situation.
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The university management initially responded a day after the incident, leaving everything in a state of disarray for an entire night. However, once they began attending to the situation, renovation work commenced in earnest. Currently, renovation work is ongoing across the affected areas.
Despite the destruction, all students have been accounted for and are safe. The university management’s intervention has ensured that the students are safe and receiving the necessary assistance.
The heavy rainfall and strong winds also affected the surrounding neighbourhood, with several trees torn apart or uprooted. Some areas were the popular “As E Dey Hot” and the University Health Centre.
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The students’ executive of Alumni Hall released a statement regarding the incident, appealing for a prompt response from the school management. They reported that Blocks 1, 2, and 3 were affected by the heavy rain, with significant damage including broken doors, crumbled ceilings, and shattered glass that injured some students. Many rooms were flooded, leaving some students without a place to rest.
The executive council of the hall of residence urged students to stay calm, prioritise safety, and report any further damage or concerns, while assuring that necessary measures would be taken to ensure their safety and well-being. The statement was signed by Esther I. Adesina, the Hall General Secretary, and Osundele Precious, the Chairperson, Alumni Hall of Residence.