No! Contrary to Rumors, No Student Fatalities Confirmed Amidst Unrest at Kwara State University Malete

By Ibraheem Muhammad Mustapha

Claim

Some individuals circulated information online alleging that students have died during the unrest at Kwara State University Malete.

Verdict

False, the viral claims that some students have died is not true

Full Text

Beginning on February 19th, 2024, an aura of unrest pervaded Kwara State University Malete (KWASU) as students were targeted by raids purportedly carried out jointly by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), an event that spanned three consecutive days. The intensity of these operations led to an escalation of tensions on the 22nd of February, the third day of the operation, prompting students to take to the streets in response.

Amidst the turmoil, online platforms became inundated with videos portraying scenes of chaos, including instances of burning and property destruction. The situation intensified with the emergence of rumors, particularly on X, suggesting that casualties, specifically student deaths, had occurred during the tumultuous events. These unverified claims quickly gained traction as users shared posts alleging fatalities among the student body.

One particular tweet, posted by a user identifying as @BabyGirlFL, asserted that one student had died, and another was fighting for her life. This tweet garnered significant attention, accumulating 688k views, 4,881 likes, 264 quotes, and 5,284 reposts. Another user lamented, “RIP to the girl that was killed this evening during the protest at Kwasu.”

Verification

FactCheckAfrica conducted thorough verification efforts, including cross-referencing multiple sources and reaching out to eyewitnesses and official statements. Efforts to confirm the claim of student deaths yielded no credible evidence. Instead, eyewitness accounts, including one from an official from the university speaking on condition of anonymity, corroborated that no fatalities occurred. The source even provided first-hand witness testimony of the ambulance evacuating injured individuals from the protest scene. “I witnessed this myself and made the video when the ambulance evacuated the injured person from the protest scene,” stated the anonymous official.

Also, official statements from the university management, represented by the registrar, Dr. Kikelomo W. Sallee, refuted the claims of student fatalities. The registrar emphasized that peace had been restored to the Malete community and categorically denied reports of any deaths. “We also wish to state that contrary to reports on social media, no one was shot, and no lives were lost in the unrest,” said the registrar.

Furthermore, the university management reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of students and addressing concerns regarding the sting operations. “Management has been liaising with, and will meet the EFCC and NDLEA on the arbitrary sting operations on our student body,” stated the registrar. Additionally, the management affirmed its stance against any mistreatment of students and encouraged students to uphold peaceful and orderly conduct. “Management does not condone rough handling of bona fide students of our great University, and we urge our dear students to uphold peaceful and orderly conduct for which our Great KWASU is known.”

Conclusion

Based on the evidence gathered, the claim that some students died during the unrest at Kwara State University Malete is false. The university management and eyewitnesses have confirmed that no deaths occurred, and efforts to verify the claim through multiple sources yielded no evidence to support it.