The Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, has confirmed the death of Isabella Ajana, a 100-level student in the Faculty of Law, who reportedly died due to complications linked to being locked out of her hostel room, where her essential diabetes medication was kept.
Isabella passed away on Friday, July 4, 2025, after being admitted to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital four days earlier.
Sources revealed that the tragedy began on Friday night, June 27, when Isabella and her roommates were locked out of their room at Emalda Hostel, a privately owned facility near the university, after accidentally leaving their key inside. Efforts to retrieve a spare key from hostel authorities were unsuccessful, as the key custodian was reportedly out of the state until Monday.
“By Sunday night, the situation took a dangerous turn,” a hostel source who spoke anonymously told reporters. “Isabella, who was a Type 1 Diabetes patient, had her insulin and medication locked inside the room. Her health deteriorated rapidly.”
Although access to the room was eventually granted on Monday, Isabella’s condition worsened despite medical intervention. She was first taken to the UNIZIK Medical Centre, which referred her to the teaching hospital due to inadequate facilities to manage her critical state.
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Reports indicate that Isabella showed some signs of improvement by Thursday, July 3, but tragically passed away the following day. Her death was kept from public knowledge at her family’s request until Tuesday, July 8, when her mother informed a close friend.
The incident has sparked widespread mourning and outrage across the university community, with students demanding answers and accountability. Some sources allege that hostel management demanded as much as ₦40,000 before releasing the spare key, a claim the university authorities have denied.
Njelita Louis, Acting Director of Information, Public Relations, and Protocol at UNIZIK, confirmed Isabella’s death in a statement released Thursday and announced a full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“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,” the statement read.
“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.
“Currently, there is an ongoing investigation into the circumstances that led to the demise of our dear student. The university is committed to transparency in this investigation and will keep the university community and the public properly updated on the progress and outcome.”
Louis added that UNIZIK is focusing its probe on the operations, management, security, and welfare conditions of Emalda Hostel and other private hostels around the institution.
“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 cordial relations within the university community,” he said.
Isabella’s death comes just four days after another student, a 300-level Microbiology undergraduate identified as Tochi, reportedly slumped and died while playing football on campus, compounding concerns about student welfare at the institution.
