UNIZIK: 100-level law student allegedly denied access to medication, dies
UNIZIK law student dies after alleged denial of insulin: Campus in mourning. Photo credit: Facebook.
By Ede Favour
Sad news has rocked the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, following the tragic death of Miss Ajana Chioma Isabella, a 100-level student of the Faculty of Law. She was preparing for her induction into the Students’ Bar Association before her untimely passing.
According to sources, Chioma mistakenly locked her room key inside at at Emalda Hostel and promptly informed the hostel management, requesting urgent access so she could retrieve her insulin medication for diabetes.
Some students alleged that the management demanded ₦40,000 from each of her roommates as a condition for unlocking the room with the spare key. They also claimed Chioma and her roommates were reportedly forced to sleep outside their room for three consecutive days because they were unable to meet the demand.
During this period, her health deteriorated due to lack of access to her medication. She eventually collapsed and was rushed to the university’s medical center, and later referred to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital.
It was gathered that she eventually passed away on July 4, 2025, due to complications related to high blood sugar.
The development has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious concerns about the hostel’s emergency response protocol, especially in situations involving students with medical conditions.
Many students and stakeholders are calling for a thorough review of the hostel’s policies and emergency procedures to prevent such a tragic incident from ever occurring again.
Reacting, the school authorities denied the allegations that N40,000 was demanded from the late student and her roommates.
In a statement, the school’s acting director of information and public relations/protocol, Njelita Louis, said investigation is currently ongoing into the circumstances that led to the demise of the student.
The statement read, “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.
“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.”