OAU Intensifies Search for Missing Chemistry Student

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has stepped up efforts to locate Dorcas Oseghale, a 300-level student of Chemistry, who has been missing for four days.

Dorcas, with matriculation number CHM/2021/165, was last seen on Thursday, August 7, after telling a friend she was going to buy food at the Students’ Village along Ede Road.

Since then, she has not been seen, and all attempts to reach her via phone have failed.

University spokesperson, Abiodun Olarewaju, confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday, adding that the matter had been reported to the Osun State Police Command to expand the search.

“On the 7th of August, 2025, at around 3:00 p.m., a report of a missing female student surfaced on a students’ social media platform. The university’s Security Unit immediately began monitoring conversations surrounding the case,” Olarewaju said.

He explained that by 6:10 p.m. the same day, a group of students from the Department of Chemistry, alongside Dorcas’ roommate, Akinkuade Omobolanle Beatrice, from the Department of Agricultural Extension, officially reported the case to the school’s Security Unit. Three security officers were then assigned to accompany the students to the police, who have greater capacity and expertise to handle such cases.

Vice Chancellor, Professor Simeon Bamire, praised the students for their swift action and pledged the university’s full cooperation with law enforcement. He called on the police and other security agencies to deploy all available resources to find Dorcas.

He also appealed to members of the public with any useful information to contact the nearest police station or reach the university’s Security Unit directly.