University lecturer dies in hotel room after lodging with 22-year-old student

DDM News

A tragic incident rocked Kogi State on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, following the sudden death of Dr. Olabode Abimbola Ibikunle, a senior lecturer at Kogi State University, Anyigba, who was found lifeless in a hotel room shortly after lodging with a female student.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the late academic, a married man with children, was in the company of a 22-year-old undergraduate, identified as Gloria Samuel, a 200-level student from the Department of Social Studies Education.

According to hotel sources, both the lecturer and the student had checked into the unnamed hotel earlier that day.

Trouble reportedly began shortly after the pair retired to their room.

The hotel manager, Moses Friday, told police authorities that the female student suddenly rushed out to the reception area, screaming that Dr. Ibikunle had passed out.

The hotel staff quickly called the police and summoned medical assistance.

The unconscious lecturer was immediately transported to a nearby hospital.

However, on arrival, medical personnel confirmed that Dr. Ibikunle was dead.

Police operatives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) were dispatched to the hotel, where the student, Gloria Samuel, was taken into custody for questioning.

Confirming the incident, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya, described the lecturer’s death as unfortunate and said an autopsy had already been conducted to determine the actual cause of death.

He also disclosed that investigations were still ongoing and that further steps would be taken once the results are finalized.

Preliminary reports and unverified accounts suggest that the deceased lecturer may have consumed multiple energy drinks prior to the incident.

However, police have not confirmed this detail and have advised the public to await official updates.

The case has sparked shockwaves within the university community, particularly among students and colleagues of the late Dr. Ibikunle, who was regarded as a seasoned academic and mentor to many.

There has also been widespread reaction on social media platforms, with many users expressing concern over the morality of student-lecturer relationships and the growing cases of abuse of authority in Nigerian universities.

Dr. Ibikunle’s death adds to the list of recent scandals involving tertiary institution staff and their students, raising calls for university authorities to implement stricter codes of conduct and mentorship guidelines.

As of the time of filing this report, the university has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.

Meanwhile, Gloria Samuel remains in police custody as investigators work to unravel the full circumstances surrounding the lecturer’s sudden demise.

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