By Adeyinka Adeniran
No fewer than four students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state sustained varying degrees of injuries on Thursday as the roof of the Amphitheater fell off during lecture.
The situation, it was gathered was caused by the early morning rain which started with a heavy whirlwind.
The students, according to sources were having a lecture, SER 001 in the Amphitheatre of the Oduduwa hall when the incident occurred.
There were different accounts of the number of injured students as at the time of this report. While a source said four students were affected, another source said the casualty figure was higher.
However, the sources confirmed that the injured students were rushed to the hospital at about 8:45 in the morning.
A student from the Science and Technology Education department was said to be one of those hit by the falling roof during the heavy downpour.
Three other students affected were also left with severe injury during the SER 001 class at the Amphitheater.
It was gathered that two students, whose cases demanded more serious medical attention were immediately moved to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC) where they are currently receiving treatment.
Confirming the development in a statement, the management of the school called for calm, announcing an immediate and indefinitely closure of the Amphitheatre.
The Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju in a statement said, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Adebayo Bamire led other principal officers to the Medical and Health Centre of the University, and ensured that the injured students were given adequate medical attention.
The Vice-Chancellor in appealing for calm, urged students and staff to go about their academic and administrative activities without any form of untoward action.
The statement reads in part, “The torrential rainfall of early Thursday morning, accompanied with a whirlwind, which started as students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, were having a lecture, SER to be precise, in the Amphitheatre of the Oduduwa Hall, affected the ceiling of the Amphitheatre as it fell off and injured a few of the students.
“The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire led other principal officers to the Medical and Health Centre of the University, and ensured that the injured students were given adequate medical attention.
“The Vice-Chancellor also followed two other students, whose cases demanded more medical attention to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), where the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor John Okeniyi, physically supervised the proceedings.
The Vice-Chancellor has, therefore, appealed for calm and urged students and staff to go about their academic and administrative activities without any form of untoward action.
Meanwhile, the management of the University, has sealed off the amphitheatre, the venue of the unfortunate incident, until further notice.
